“Listening with your Hands” at Catholic Charities Community Services, Southside

From the brochure: “What did artists do before the internet?!  Come, Learn to feel inspiration without gadgets!  We’ll practice some simple breathing techniques to connect you to your inner-imagination.  We’ll play blindfolded drawing games and practice color-mixing, and we’ll also practice silence and listen to music to help us focus and get in the mood.  After an introduction to brushwork technique, you’ll make your own exploratory painting!  At the end of our session, we’ll proudly display our work in CCCSS’s newest gallery.”    Compared to the schools and community centers I’m accustomed to, I was floored by how attentive and quiet these students were — we had such sweet silence as we all got into our paintings, and they were so proud to share their work with their families at the final day!