About Our Services

In our gallery and studio space in the Towles Court Art Colony in downtown Sarasota, Expressive Arts Florida offers a variety of exhibits and on-going classes throughout the year. The gallery features art by the four members and the local expressive arts community. We have special exhibits relating to our community programs ranging from art made by people with Parkinson’s disease to children with Autism. We also can create custom-tailored programs.

We offer a variety of workshops and classes, individually and collectively.  Classes are structured to use the expressive arts modalities of visual art, creative writing, poetry, movement, music, and drama.  All of our workshops are designed for the artist within and do not require any previous art experience.  We simply offer an opportunity to express yourself in new and meaningful ways, including: Mind-Body Skills, Depth Painting, Art as a Healing Practice, Movement Painting, Touch Drawing, Family Arts Day, Mandala Workshops and Creative Self-Renewal Retreats for Helping Professionals. 

We provide consulting, mentoring, art instruction and individual and group expressive arts therapy.

We specialize in contracting with community programs to bring expressive arts into your settings, through staff training, team building, client services, collaborative and community art projects, and more. All programs are tailored to meet the specific needs of each group.

Services from Expressive Arts Florida:

On-Going Services | Workshops | Events | Exhibits | On-Line

ON-GOING SERVICES

Expressive Arts Community Networking. 
The Expressive Arts Community is flourishing in southwest Florida. Our monthly networking meeting gives practitioners and those in training an opportunity to meet, share, and try out new ideas. Each session will offer a facilitated experience by a community member, as well as networking time. $10 Last Wed of each month Call or email to reserve your spot.

Mind-Body Skills Sessions for Individuals, Couples and Groups
When mind and body are working together there is great opportunity for growth and well being.  Participants will explore the scientific basis for mind-body medicine.  Participants will also learn effective tools for self-care that can help in dealing with life changes, stress and illness. Call to discuss fees and appointments.

Creative Communication Sessions for Relationships
Healthy relationships are creative. The creative process can be transformative and helps us explore emotions and strengthen closeness in our relationships with others. Participants will discover, in a safe and fun environment how to activate the power of their creativity together.  Call to discuss fees and appointments.

Expressive Arts Mentoring, Consulting, and Supervision
Professional support and consultation is a must for those in this rapidly developing field. At Expressive Arts Florida, our team is available to provide guidance in the fields of therapy, healthcare, education, and more. Our services are available in person, by telephone, email, or Skype. Single or ongoing appointments are available. Call to discuss.

Community/Collaborative Art Making
A collaborative art project is a wonderful addition to your event! We design projects appropriate to your setting and clientele. Conferences, festivals, waiting rooms, educational programs, and even parties are great settings for community art projects, and the finished piece can be hung in a place of honor and posted on your website. Some examples are collaborative mandalas, quilts, mosaics, and Flower of Life.

Creative Team Building
We will design an arts-based team building experience for your agency, business, or work team.
The arts provide a safe and powerful way to increase understanding, tolerance and appreciation, resulting in improved relationships and productivity. And, you will have a beautiful and powerful finished art piece to install in your space.
Call for a consultation; we will create a proposal to meet your needs.

Transforming Trauma through Creative Expression 
An 8-week therapy group for women recovering from sexual abuse. Creativity is a powerful way to release the power and transform the energy of past sexual trauma. Small, confidential group. Facilitated by Kathleen Horne, LMHC and Elizabeth Bornstein, LCSW. Fall 2009; currently forming a new group. Call Kathleen for information 941-365-6466  

Individual Expressive Arts Sessions
Using her "Art as a Healing Practice" model , Kathleen offers individual sessions to anyone interested in creatively tuning in to their deep inner wisdom as a resource for health, wellbeing, and more authentic, creative  living. These sessions are not psychotherapy, but are deeply healing encounters with the inner self.  You may schedule one session, or a series.  $50 per session (60-90 min.) Contact Kathleen to schedule 

Creating Healing Environments
We specialize in transforming your space into one of healing and wellbeing. We will work with you, your staff, students, or residents, to design and collaboratively create mosaics, hand painted furniture, art quilts, and more. Let us show you our portfolio and discuss options, ideas and fees.  The possibilities range from a commissioned art work with a healing message, to a complete transformation of an environment. We will have examples on the website soon.
Wonderful for hospitals, agencies, waiting rooms, schools, retirement centers, or your home.

WORKSHOPS

Touch Drawing 
Images that arise from a deep inner place can be powerful expressions of our authentic creative voice. Touch Drawing offers participants a simple, profound creative experience. Imagery is created by the movement of hands and fingers on a tissue paper surface. Suitable for any level of experience, including beginners.  Our facilitators have learned Touch Drawing from Deborah Koff-Chapin, who created it. www.touchdrawing.com  $35 includes supplies; $25 if you bring your own.  3rd Wed. evening of each month. 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Contact us at least one week in advance to reserve your space.

Art as a Healing Practice
An art-making practice as part of our daily lives is health-affirming and life-enhancing. Participants will take time to pause, connect with inner resources through guided meditation, art-making, writing, and sharing/witnessing. This practice is simple and powerful, and can be done individually at home. Any level of art-making experience is welcome. $35. Series of 6 sessions (download the Fall 2010)

Exploring Touch Drawing and Fabric
“An exciting combination”
Join Kathleen for an open studio; learn how to mount your touch drawings on fabric, and paint, sew, or quilt them. This will be a wide open exploration; so bring your ideas, your curiosity, your willingness to explore. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; come anytime and stay as long as you like. Bring your (dry) touch drawings, some unbleached muslin or other fabric, your paints, sewing supplies, fabric or paper scraps, matte medium, and more. Cooperatively priced at $15-$40; please pay what you can within this range. Email or call for more info. Please reserve your space by 2 days ahead. Watch for FALL 2010 dates

Multi-Modal Art Night
An evening of exploration and celebration.
A direct outgrowth of our “Expressive Arts in Motion” exhibit and performance night, this is an opportunity to explore multi-modal expressive arts in a group setting. Bring a piece of visual art or writing that you would like to explore in other modalities, with the help of the group. We imagine poetry, movement, enactment, spoken word, improvisation, and more. If you don’t have a piece of art to bring, you are still welcome to join in. We expect this will become an ongoing event at Expressive Arts Florida; come help us launch it!! $10; reservations required.
 
 
Expressive Art Takes Form:
Come explore your personal journey.
This workshop uses an integrated arts process combined with mixed media to create a 3 dimensional cloth form (or doll). Using meditation, art, writing, and movement, you will tap into your authentic wellspring of creative knowledge and transform it into this 3 dimensional form. 
You are welcome to bring personal objects to use or be inspired by. Most supplies are included.
Fee $65.00  *will consider a sliding scale. Watch for date.

Mandalas for Healing and Creative Expression
The Mandala (Sanskrit for “sacred circle”) is found in nature and as an art/spiritual/healing form within many cultures. Participants will be introduced to this ancient and powerful symbol, and will be guided in creating personal mandalas. All levels of art experience welcome. 5 CEU’s for mental health professionals. $75 plus $10 CEU fee. Next offered in spring 2010. Watch for date.

Creative Self Renewal for Mental Health Professionals
Creative expression is a powerful means of preventing burnout and compassion fatigue in helping professionals. Participants will take a day to release their burdens and reconnect with inner resources through a variety of art making and writing experiences. Opportunities for sharing and witnessing provide support. 5 CEU’s $95 without CEU’s; $105 with CEU’s. Watch for date.

Introducing Expressive Arts to Clients
Adding some basic expressive arts experiences to your psychotherapy practice can significantly deepen your work. Participants learn how to introduce and integrate an expressive arts component effectively. An introduction to basic, inexpensive materials is included. Pre-requisite: “Creative Self Renewal for Mental Health Professionals” 5 CEU’s  $95 Watch for date. 

Expressive Arts Case Consultation for Mental Health Therapists.  
16 CEU’s for LMHC, LCSW, LMFT
For Mental Health Therapists to experience the power of the expressive arts as a method of consultation, and to learn basic expressive arts principles to integrate into their professional practice.
Contact Kathleen for details.

Mandala 1 Workshop
Participants will create a personal Mandala and learn some of its applications for healing, centering, and artistic exploration. Open to any interested adults. LMHC’s, LCSW’s & LMFT’s may earn CEU’s.  $40 includes basic supplies ($10 CEU fee) Call or email for more info and to reserve your space.  Facilitated by Kathleen. Watch for Fall date.

Developing Your Touch Drawings
Bring your Touch Drawings and a canvas and learn how to mount and develop them with acrylics, pastels, collage and more. $25 for this 2.5 hour workshop. Offered periodically and by request.

Expressive Arts for Self-Awareness
Victoria will guide you in a multi-modal arts process in a studio-type setting. Explore and enjoy visual art making, creative writing, image dialoguing, movement and sound as a way to tap into your authentic creative resources. Discover your path to self-transformation, personal growth and renewal. Taught in series of 3 sessions; $30 per class. Discounts for attending 6 classes.
Download flyer here

Animal Wisdom
By paying attention to the natural world around us, and taking notice of those creatures big a small who visit us in our day to day life, we can use the language, spirit, and inspiration of animals to communicate and connect with our inner and outer worlds. As we attune to Mother Nature’s presence, and the symbols and powers of our animal guides, we are able to tap into the essence of our inner knowing, gaining positive self-awareness and a deeper understanding of our authentic path and purpose. Join Elizabeth and Victoria for art making, journaling, nature. $35 per class, with discount for attending multiple sessions.  Download flyer here.

ONLINE

Online Mentoring and Support Group for Expressive Arts Facilitators.
This is a private, confidential, members-only blog which provides a forum for mentoring, consultation, and peer dialogue in the field of Expressive Arts. It is designed to give beginning facilitators, or those expanding their practice into new areas, the benefit of both professional and peer support. Openings on the first of every month. Monthly rate (unlimited use) $50 per month. Group size will not exceed 10. Email or call for more information. ONLINE (download flyer)

Mandala as Personal Practice   An ONLINE forum *Beginning May 1  (NEW!)
for exploring the mandala, sharing images, writings, and experiences. Kathleen will facilitate by providing information, resources, teachings and images, and will offer feedback and suggestions to participants. Discussion and sharing will be encouraged between participants. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in exploring the Mandala as a personal art practice, learning more, sharing their art and insights, and staying connected with others, without geographical barriers. Call or email for info. $25 per month (1 month commitment required; renewable on the 1st of each month). Download flyer.

EVENTS

Towles Court Art Walks
3rd Friday of each month, 6-10 pm. Join us, and our neighboring gallieries for a vibrant, art-filled evening. Great art, live music, friends and fun! At Expressive Arts Florida we usually have collaborative art projects as well!
2010 Dates: May 21, June 18, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19, Dec. 17

EXHIBITS

Mandalas, Tibetan Art and Culture in the Schools
April 16 through May 15
Opening Reception: Friday April 16, 5-10 p.m.
Poetry readings, and art work by students from Sarasota County Schools. This exhibit is in conjunction with the Tibetan Monks residency, Sand Mandala creation, and performance at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center.

Expressive Arts In Motion – A Community Exhibit
Second Annual Exhibit Early 2011
The expressive arts combine the visual arts, movement, drama, music, writing and other creative processes to foster deep personal growth and community development. The expressive arts process and the art that is created breathe new energy into the body, mind and spirit and as a result we are fully alive! Join us for this enlivening exhibit experience! Watch for details.

MANDALAS for Healing and Creative Expression: A Community Exhibit
Please watch for our announcement of the Spring 2011 exhibit.