Join Our Community: Spontaneous Art Making, Creative Classes, and other Special Events
- juliekingmurphy
- May 7
- 6 min read
Updated: May 21
Are you looking for a way to express your creativity, learn new skills, and connect with like-minded individuals? Our community offers a variety of creative classes and events designed to inspire and engage. Whether you are a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, there is something for everyone. Join us as we explore the exciting opportunities available in our vibrant community.
The Importance of Creativity
Creativity is not just about art; it is a vital part of human expression and innovation. Engaging in creative activities can lead to numerous benefits, including:
Improved mental health: Creative expression can reduce stress and anxiety.
Enhanced problem-solving skills: Thinking outside the box can help you tackle challenges in everyday life.
Increased social connections: Participating in group activities fosters relationships and community.
By joining our creative classes and events, you can unlock these benefits while having fun and meeting new people.
Types of Creative Activities Offered
At po-e-sis: a CREATIVE place, we offer a diverse range of art projects and media to cater to various interests and skill levels. Here are some of the most popular options:
Painting and Drawing
Whether you prefer watercolors, acrylics, or charcoal, enjoy painting and drawing in a supportive environment to explore your artistic side. We welcome artists of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Our flower-filled courtyard has a table ready to be set with paints and other art supplies for you!
Terrarium Orb Making
We can provide the materials for you to create a beautiful new ecosystem for living plants inside a glass globe that you can hang in a window at your home. These beautiful ornaments are just one of the ways that you and the natural world can collaborate as artists!
Photography (free as an individual artist with your own phone or camera, and our occasional photo show & tell groups are also really affordably priced, too!)
Capture the world through your phone camera lens gaining hands-on practice-- sit still for a while... phone down, and just observe the vibrancy around you. How long has it been since you allowed yourself to just enjoy taking pictures? Well, the inspiration is abundant in our beautiful outdoor courtyard setting. Please share what you discover in photos showing your unique perspective! Then let the art of your photos inspire even more art! We'll show you how.
Multi-media visual journaling
Unleash your creativity with combining collage, drawing, and words in a hands-on, "no-experience needed" project, like multi-media, visual journaling! Our variety of materials and approaches allow you to create page after page with courage, confidence, and curiousity--as you experiment with techniques.
Writing & Sharing Sessions
If you have a passion for storytelling or poetry, our writing sessions are perfect for you. Explore different genres, develop your writing style, and read your work aloud and receive feedback from peers.
Dance and Movement
Express yourself through movement in a spontaneous dance party. Everyone can move in some way! Our walled courtyard is right next to a karaoke venue, so you may hear singing that inspires your movement and dance!
Upcoming Events to Look Forward To
In addition to our regular offerings of art materials, prompts, project ideas, and joyful, judgment-free support, we host various events throughout the summer that bring the community together. Here are a few highlights:
Art Exhibitions & Poetry Nights
Showcase your work or enjoy the creations of others at our art exhibitions. These events provide a platform for artists to display their talents and connect with the community. We combine visual art and poetry by responding to one anothers creations in a different medium (called ekphrastic poetry or exphrastic painting) than the artwork we are responding to.
Creative Retreats
Join us for a weekend of creativity and relaxation at our creative retreats. These immersive experiences combine workshops, nature, and community bonding for a rejuvenating escape.
Themed Workshops
Participate in our themed workshops that focus on specific skills or projects. These events are perfect for those looking to dive deeper into a particular area of interest.
How to Get Involved
Getting involved in our community is easy! Here are some steps to help you join our creative classes and events:
Visit Our Website: Check out our offerings for the "spontaneous artist" and the growing schedule of events on our website.
Be a spontaneous artist, and drop by to create during our summer studio hours, every Saturday in June and July. Of course you can tell us ahead of time that you are coming and what you might like to work on, if you know! We'd love to be ready to greet you and provide the supplies you need to get started!
Register Online for Special Events: Sign up for events that interest you. Early registration is recommended as spots fill up quickly. These gatherings and retreats are a great way to to meet fellow creatives and share your experiences in small groups.
Sure, "po-e-sis: a CREATIVE place" is new, but our founder, Julie has been supporting people's creativity for years! Here are some comments from individuals who have worked with Julie in various ways:
What I appreciated most about the course was how personal and engaging it felt. I really liked that we weren’t just learning about expressive arts in theory, but actually getting to create, reflect, and share with each other.
Thank you for believing in me and for caring about me as much as you did. Thank you for being there for me …and for letting me open up to you completely without feeling judged in any way.
I want you to know I picked up painting and I am absolutely in love with expressing myself that way, and it all started with our session. Literally everyone got paintings for Christmas this year!
Life seems so much more rich and colorful now after all the magic that began at the retreat. I’m feeling so nourished and hopeful. [Retreat leaders, ]your combined beauty and energy created such an incredible experience for us all. It is my intention to keep the flame lit and the magic alive.
Thank you for bringing me back to a practice I haven't participated in for quite some time. I have often used painting as a way to call in the blessings of letting things go and working towards growing from places deep within to the outside. This was a call back to that practice. Thank you!
I will take with me your enthusiastic curiosity for this work as a way of being. Thank you for this time of [artistic] reflection on some of the wonderful, moving, joyful, and painful moments I've had.
You are a joyful person! Every time you speak you give people reason to smile.
You are exuberant and your energy is infectious! ...You do inspire wholeness and joy!
Julie is always down for arts and crafts!
She cultivated a safe environment from the very start, making it feel very
comfortable to be vulnerable. It is obvious she has so much experience in the expressive arts and it extremely good at showing her gratitude for us and excitement for the art we create.
It was an incredible introduction in every aspect. Not only was I learning so much content, I learned so much about myself I would have never figured out without the art.
I had a lot of fun in the class while also genuinely learning a lot of new ideas.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Experience
To ensure you get the most out of your spontaneous art making, classes and events with us, consider these tips:
Be Open-Minded: Embrace new ideas and techniques. You might discover a hidden talent!
Be open-eyed and open in your other senses, too. Inspiration is everywhere! Notice.
Practice Regularly: The more you practice, the more you will improve. Set aside time each week to work on your skills.
Engage with Others: Connect with fellow participants. Share your experiences and learn from each other.
Ask questions! We'll offer our thoughts and help you find answers -- we are here to support your artistic journey. And be willing to share your knowledge, too! We all learn from each other and from experience.
Conclusion
Taking time for your own artmaking and even joining our community of curious artists are excellent ways to have fun, explore your new interests, reflect on what your art means to you, share your long time artistic passions, meet new friends, and enhance your skills. With a variety of projects and approaches to art available and exciting events on the horizon, there has never been a better time to be spontaneous, to get started!
Take the first step towards your creative journey today. Visit our website, register for an event, send us an email about your interests and when you plan to come by, mark your calendar, and please visit us in Burnsville, NC --it's time to make the art that only you can make, your art has been waiting! And we hope you'll become part of a vibrant community that celebrates creativity and connection. We can’t wait to see you here at po-e-sis: a CREATIVE place!
Comments