Reflection Press - Claiming Face | Claiming Soul Adult Creativity & Consciousness Building Workshops with Maya Gonzalez in San Francisco

Women Claiming Face Claiming Face | Claiming Soul
Creativity and Consciousness Building
Workshops with Maya Gonzalez

create art. find peace. live free.

These are intimate workshops limited to 6-10 adults per session. They take place in Maya's personal art studio in San Francisco's Mission District.

Find out more about these workshops below or use links to skip to particular sections. ◊ Schedule ◊ About ◊ Themes ◊ Workshop Details ◊

Spring 2012 Workshop Schedule
Day Long Sessions:
Schedule will be posted in early February
Potential Class themes for 2012:
Similar themes from 2011 plus...Creating Conscious Children's Books, Art as Universal Prayer, Art as Ritual for Expanding Peace, Body as Creative Expression (with focus on women, body image and aging),The Power of the Feminine as Creator, and more....
Weekend Intensives:
Schedule will be posted in early February
Weekly Series:
Schedule will be posted in early February

About These Workshops
This kind of work begins where you begin. Feel free to relax and let your mind expand as Maya introduces you to an esoteric understanding of the nature of reality and self in light of scientific, spiritual and metaphysical information. Making art about self from this place opens us up to learn from bigger and wiser aspects of our self. As well as how to consciously engage with the great creative force that dwells within each of us and all things. Releasing and playing with our creativity helps us to think differently, see things differently and learn how to harness our creative power in all aspects of our life and our world. A mixture of pure play, spiritual presence and conscious awareness will support uniting multiple aspects of self and experience. Everyone is an artist. Come see why.

You will use art as a tool to know self, create deep reflection, plumb the power of your own creative force and come to understand its intrinsic connection to all that is. This is not a formal "art class," but moreover a journey into spirit using art as a form of ritual and awareness.

Maya's philosophy is very process oriented and holds the potential to touch and inform every aspect of life. Consequently, classes are equally appropriate for full time artists as well as those who do not consider themselves artistic at all.
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Workshop Themes
Expanding Perspective of Self
The more deeply we are conscious of all levels of our experience, the more we know self and can step into deeper flows of creative energy and affect reality inside and outside of ourselves. Giving free expression to larger and nonverbal aspects of self while exercising mindfulness and presence, we come into contact with the essence of our creative force and the source of life. Using images of others we will explore highly personal to global expressions of self and our context within our current era and culture. Through art we will touch on emotional expression, negotiating race, respecting diversity and sexual expression and believing in peace. Day Long: Projects will include others as mirror. We will do a guided meditation on reflection using the Maestrapeace mural on the Women's Building across the street from Maya's studio. We will explore the possibilities related to seeing ourselves genuinely represented in our world and the effect this has on our internal creative systems.
Weekend Intensive: We will work on an evolving set of projects focused on others as self, ultimately seeing through human separation and into self as humanity. Besides the mural meditation we will also work with how to use art as ritual and a tool for self awareness.
Nature as Reflection/Teacher
At all times we are and always have been an intrinsic part of the natural world. The practice of seeing ourselves in nature opens us up to connecting with and understanding the natural flow of the creative force in all things and the interconnectedness of all existence. We each have a relationship with nature throughout our life. Sometimes we don't even realize it. Being aware of particular connections we have with land, animals, weather, elements, plants, a quality of sky or the seasons and more, provides reflection and strengthens our sense of belonging, connects us to MamiEarth and can help us to know ourselves. Some of Maya's best teachers are animals and some of Maya's best friends are rivers. Day Long: Projects will include nature self portraits and hand portrait flags to fly outdoors. We will do a guided meditation in the small garden by Maya's studio to open awareness of our inner senses and facilitate the experience of nature as self.
Weekend Intensive: We will work on an evolving set of projects focused on nature self portraits expanding into self portrait as natural world. Besides the garden meditation we will also work with how to keep creativity expanding and in motion. Back to top

Workshop Details
More specific details will also be provided after class registration. Location:
Maya's Personal Art Studio located in San Francisco's Mission District next to the historic Women's Building. (18th St and Lapidge St.)*
*-unfortunately Maya's art studio is not accessible, classes at other accessible locations will be phased in if needs arise Class Size:
Mininum of 2 per session
Maximum:
Hands-on Working Classes:6 Adults max.
Lecture-based:10 Adults max.
Cost:
Sliding Scale - Day Long: $95-125 Weekend: $155-185 Register:
$50 deposit is required to reserve your space; What's Provided:
a supportive intimate space to expand and explore, hot tea, guided meditations and projects, all basic art materials and handouts What to Bring:
packed lunch/snacks, any additional materials you would like to play with and explore Getting There:
Public Transit: BART to the 16th Street Station. Muni bus lines serving the area: 14, 22, 26, 33, 49 and the J Church. Use the transit Trip Planner.
Parking: Street parking is available however due to length of class parking in a garage is recommended. Mission/Bartlett Garage (between Valencia and Mission) is within a few blocks. Depending on class participants carpooling may also be arranged or a shuttle from a no time limit street parking area. Cancellation:
In the event you can not make a workshop you've registered for, please notify Maya ASAP, while we cannot refund your deposit you will have the option to use it towards an alternate workshop. If class is cancelled due to limited students, you will receive a full refund. Back to top

Frequently Asked Questions:
Q:Do you teach art techniques?

A: While art skills will most likely develop through engagement with these workshops that is not the primary goal. Maya's workshops are about engaging in the creative process and allowing you to explore and express that which is often non-verbal through carefully designed yet simple projects and meditations.

Q:Is this an art therapy class?

A: This is not a therapeutic setting. This class is really about expanding self-awareness and consciousness using art as a tool. That said, a stronger sense of self is the goal of the class which can be therapeutic.

Q:What will I get out of this workshop?

A: You can engage with the workshops as much or as little as you would like. The greater the engagement the deeper the learning. On the most basic level these workshops are about making art and exploring creativity. But because creativity is so powerful, class has the potential of engaging with the deepest part of your spirit and putting you in contact with the true force of creativity.

Q:Is this a spirituality class?

A: It is not limited to spirituality. We will explore the multidimensionality of being: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and the unknown and the unification of all those dimensions of self using art as a tool.

Q:What is Maya's philosophy based on?

A: Maya's philosophy is based on her life experience and work as an artist. This includes long-term metaphysical study of the nature of reality, the practice of presence/mindfulness, and a deep engagement with the creative force as a personal teacher.

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