I'll Save a Seat for You
Art is a tool for what ails you
Before getting to today’s news, A note to my readers: No doubt we are experiencing unprecedented times here in the United States, the ripple effects of which, impact the entire world. The news is coming so fast, it is difficult to keep up with all that has happened since the inauguration.
It feels weird to continue to send out these newsletters and art related content as if it is simply another day. Even these few words seem to be the understatement of the year, but my intent isn’t to sum it all up here.
It is only to acknowledge and invite.
Change does not happen without acknowledging. It is the first step in many a 12 step program for a reason—to admit and acknowledge reality and the feeling of powerlessness.
Recovery does not happen without examining. Not to steep ourselves in the blow by blow news cycle, but not to stick our head in the sand and hope for the storm to blow over either.
“Anxiety is the mask that truth wears when we refuse to stop and uncover its face.”
~David Whyte
To allow our feelings to rise, to examine what we are experiencing internally, without judgement for whether our feelings are negative or positive according to cultural standards, is the first step to recovering our own voice.
And I believe it is a critical time for each of us to fully connect to our own voice.
Art is not a frivolity in this season. It is a tool that allows us to release the blanket of anxiety, to process what is happening outside of our control, to reconnect to our own body, mind, and spirit, to connect to our own truest selves and to each other.
Art is an act of resistance.
When we process through the feelings, a channel is cleared, releasing the flow of our own creative curiosity and imaginations, restoring us to hope and empowering us to find our way forward, where we may not have been able to see a way before.
For the next two weeks, my membership group will meet eight times to spend time processing through the tool of art making: Four mornings in the coming week—Monday February 3rd thru Thursday February 6th and four afternoons the week after—Monday February 10th thru Thursday February 13th. (See the February Membership group schedule here for full details)
I plan to process through mark-making. Members are welcome to follow along with mark-making of their own or bring any creative project to the table. I’ll open with a few words, and together we will allow conversation to flow naturally as our hands are busy with art making.
Silence is welcome at this table as well. No need to do anything more than just be present with the group, to give yourself the space to breathe, to remember that you are not alone. To restore a sense of hope through our shared connection.
If you’ve been curious about the Recovering Your Intuitive Voice membership group, or even if this is the first time you are hearing of it, this is your official invitation to join us.
Group members have access to twice monthly lessons from some of my most popular workshops, at least two online live group gatherings each month, exclusive excerpts from my first book and my the one in progress, special opportunities for collaborative art projects and swaps, and more!
It is a great time to give it a try. Lock in at the low $12.50 monthly rate or jump in at the annual rate of $125 (like getting two months for free) and join us at the virtual table this week. I’ll save a seat for you.
Read on for more news . . .
With love and gratitude to you all,
Crystal Marie
Looking for a deeper dive into your art practice with personal mentoring and guidance?
This is a hybrid mix of prerecorded lessons and 4 live online sessions, and a deeper dive into mastering the processes, practices, and techniques being presented.
More than what I typically offer in an online workshop, this is a small group experience that includes guidance and mentorship for participants.
From sourcing materials, creating fodder, surface design and the art of collage, to folding these techniques into other mixed media works— I'll work with each student to bring their own vision and ideas into fruition.
Participants meet 4 Tuesdays in February, live online
Registration remains open. Check out the details at Catalyst Art Labs here:
Art and Assemblage
May 2-4 2025
Kansas City, MO
First up on the live on location calendar for 2025: Art and Assemblage is a comprehensive workshop that will guide you through the process of elevating your artwork, collections, found objects, and salvaged materials into beautiful assemblages and fine artworks.