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Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center



Healing Arts Winter/Spring 2023

Mixed Media for Kids with High Sensory Needs - Ages 7+

$200

with Rae Balmuth MA, RDT

Calendar Current session started Mar 7, 2023 at 6:30 pm, runs for 8 weeks

This course is designed for the art student ages 7 and up who desires a highly structured environment in which tools are provided to activate, but not overwhelm, the five senses. Each class meeting will focus on a new medium – students will explore clay, theatrical props, acrylic paint and more.

Each 8 week course focuses on a different theme, where the project for the day will explore a topic sentence related to that theme and discussion will center around making real-life connections to our topic. Outcome goals include learning the basics of several artistic media, increasing impulse control, providing sensory stimulation, and building recognition of theme/main idea to be applied in both conversation skills as well as reading comprehension. 

Students welcome in the class may, but do not need to be experiencing, one of many developmental challenges such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, Down Syndrome, or Traumatic Brain Injury. 

Week 1 – Student and teacher introductions, review classroom rules, introduction of theme for session, brainstorming collage

Week 2 – Experimenting with Marker, crayon, and colored pencil, discuss sensory experience with each medium

Week 3 – Pastels – exploring how to use the same medium in different ways

Week 4 – Clay (Model Magic) – exploring how sculpture is different than 2D art

Week 5 – Watercolor to introduce final project

Week 6 – Charcoal continuation of final project

Week 7 – Tempera paint to complete final project

Week 8 – Review of final project and present to families

Member Discount: 15%

Creative Expression for Personal Growth : Ages 12 - 17

$180

with Rae Balmuth MA, RDT

Calendar Next available session starts Apr 3, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 6 weeks

MACC/Healing Arts Division - Dance and Movement Courses

What's underneath the surface, waiting to bloom in you?  For those feeling stuck, dealing with stress, or worrying about what's next in their journey MACC offers this process-over-product course to help students ages 12 - 17 dig deep to overcome challenges.  Led by a credentialed Drama Therapist and Therapeutic Art Life Coach, each class series will incorporate explorations in various studio art forms with theatrical role play, creative writing, and therapeutic verbal processing.  Our goal is to aid students in enriching their sense of self, discovering roadblocks to growth, and identifying helpful tools to stay motivated and open to anything life throws their way.  While this course is designed as community-based support and should not be considered licensed healthcare, we welcome individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, social skills, and learning differences as well as those without a diagnosis simply seeking a better understanding of the self. 

As each class series will be tailored to the needs of the group, activities will rotate each semester and students are encouraged to re-enroll as often as desired to further facilitate their story. This course is an excellent option for students wishing to connect socially with peers in a playful, support-group type setting and should not be considered as a substitute for mental healthcare with a licensed practitioner.

Exact tools used each session may vary based on student interest. Previous sessions have included Drama Therapy assessment, mandala, poetry, theatrical tableau, and playwriting. This semester, we may focus more on watercolor painting, mask making, and script writing, but this will be specified more once students who enroll begin to set their own growth goals. 

General outline:

week 1  - introductions, drama-therapy based assessment tools

week 2 - additional assessment tools, exploration of expressive preferences and personal strengths

week 3 - personal growth goal setting

week 4 - exploring obstacles to attaining personal growth goals

week 5 - exploring coping tools and things to help keep us accountable to our goals

week 6 - concretizing group activity for goals and commitments, brainstorming on final projects

week 7 - work day, mixed media final project showing 1 growth goal, 1 accountability tool, and 1 coping tool

week 8 - complete projects and perform for class

Member Discount:  15%

Creative Expression for Personal Growth : Ages 18 - 25

$180

with Rae Balmuth MA, RDT

Calendar Next available session starts Apr 3, 2023 at 6:30 pm, runs for 6 weeks

MACC/Healing Arts Division - Dance and Movement Courses

What's underneath the surface, waiting to bloom in you?  For those feeling stuck, dealing with stress, or worrying about what's next in their journey MACC offers this process-over-product course to help students ages 18 - 25 dig deep to overcome challenges.  Led by a credentialed Drama Therapist and Therapeutic Art Life Coach, each class series will incorporate explorations in various studio art forms with theatrical role play, creative writing, and therapeutic verbal processing.  Our goal is to aid students in enriching their sense of self, discovering roadblocks to growth, and identifying helpful tools to stay motivated and open to anything life throws their way.  While this course is designed as community-based support and should not be considered licensed healthcare, we welcome individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, social skills, and learning differences as well as those without a diagnosis simply seeking a better understanding of the self. 

As each class series will be tailored to the needs of the group, activities will rotate each semester and students are encouraged to re-enroll as often as desired to further facilitate their story. This course is an excellent option for students wishing to connect socially with peers in a playful, support-group type setting and should not be considered as a substitute for mental healthcare with a licensed practitioner.

Exact tools used each session may vary based on student interest. Previous sessions have included Drama Therapy assessment, mandala, poetry, theatrical tableau, and playwriting. This semester, we may focus more on watercolor painting, mask making, and script writing, but this will be specified more once students who enroll begin to set their own growth goals. 

General outline:

week 1  - introductions, drama-therapy based assessment tools

week 2 - additional assessment tools, exploration of expressive preferences and personal strengths

week 3 - personal growth goal setting

week 4 - exploring obstacles to attaining personal growth goals

week 5 - exploring coping tools and things to help keep us accountable to our goals

week 6 - concretizing group activity for goals and commitments, brainstorming on final projects

week 7 - work day, mixed media final project showing 1 growth goal, 1 accountability tool, and 1 coping tool

week 8 - complete projects and perform for class

Member Discount:  15%

Ya-Ya Sisters - Unite & Create!

$75

with Rae Balmuth MA, RDT

Calendar Next available session starts May 20, 2023 at 10:30 am, runs for 1 week

MACC/Healing Arts Division

1 Day Workshop, 3.5 hr (includes snack break)

Women ages 18+

In this workshop, women from all walks of life are invited to come together in a supportive community to explore movement, art, and sense of self.  No experience is necessary, and the course will rotate tools each session so re-enrollments are encouraged for those who enjoy the course.  

Each workshop offered this semester will focus on a different studio art medium such as acrylic and collage. Workshops will follow a loose structure that will include:

-warm up

-movement/music activities for grounding and self-exploration

-studio art activity (first meeting will be acrylic)

-reflection on art pieces, community share

-drum circle and more!

Member Discount:  15%





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