Release your playful nature!Enrich your spirituality! Come and celebrate the gift of creativity through an exploration of a variety of “hands-on” artistic expressions!Let your inner creativity soar with Paper MarbelingMystery, ArtCardZenz, PhotoMeditations, MandalaZ’s, CreativeSpirituality Journaling and more. Engage in discussions about blockages to spiritual growth / creativity / self-expression and re-connect with the intangible soul-essence of life as you create artistic soul space within you in new ways! No art experience or training is necessary and all are welcome. The only ingredients of Soulistry sessions connecting creativity and spirituality are an open heart, mind and a willingness to explore, share, play, create and be open to Spirit. (Basic art supply list available upon registration; separate special supply fee payable to instructor at first session). Picture Yourself... among the sights and sounds of beautiful and romantic Tuscany: olive groves, vineyards, centuries-old buildings, winding streets, texture and vibrant sunlight.
Feel Yourself... in the warm ambience of Cortona, overlooking Lake Trasimeno and the Val di Chiana, originally fortified by the Umbrians, claimed by the Etruscans, touched by the Renaissance.Almost unchanged for centuries, Cortona is one of Tuscany's jewels.
Experience... the joy of painting en plein air yourself in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere with the expert instruction of a nationally known artist and instructor and the camaraderie friendship of a small group of learners and seekers. Enjoy... great Italian food, delightful wines, new friends, breath-taking vistas, history and the hospitality of the people of Cortona.
About this workshop...
So many people are asking 'soul-questions' these days what with concerns about terrorism, inflating gas prices, housing market crisis, US banking situation and their own personal/medical crises. They've lost their ability to play, to delight, to be amazed, to be in awe, to be creative. Their connection with their spirituality is tenuous. Purpose: Through various artistic expressions, to a) Encourage participants to live a balanced life with purpose, joy and inner peace by exploring the connection between ‘soul’ and ‘artistry’ / between creativity and spirituality.
b) Move beyond restrictions which are causing career and vocational stagnation, ill health of body/mind/spirit, creative/artistic blockage in ways that can help unblock unhappy relationships, unsuccessful careers, addictions, stress-filled lives and lead to self-growth, self-awareness, self-understanding, healing and self-confidence.
c) Nurture and deepen spirituality, re-awaken creativity and release the playful nature of participants.
SOULISTRY workshop suggested for... -those in a period of creative stagnation -those who may not yet have discovered their artistic abilities or haven’t any / much art training - those whose lives are blocked/restricted in some way -those who welcome an opportunity to play, relax and create -those who would like to grow spiritually
Monastery Le Celle - Cortona
Monastery Le Celle - Cortona
Cortona
Itinerary
Saturday – Arrival in Cortona
-7:00p Welcome to Cortona wine and chocolate tasting at La Saletta.
-8:00p Evening dinner in Cortona at La Locanda nel Loggiato
Sunday - Cortona
-9:00a-12:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Evening dinner
Monday - Cortona
-9:00-12:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting Il Pozzo
-8:00p Evening dinner
Tuesday - Florence
-Day trip to Florence with lunch provided
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Evening dinner
Wednesday - Cortona
-9:00-12:00p Morning Session
-1:00 Lunch
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon Session
-7:30p Wine tasting
-8:00p Evening dinner
Thursday - Lago Trasimeno & Isola Maggiore
-Day trip with lunch provided
-7:30p Wine Tasting
-8:00p Evening dinner
Friday - Cortona
-9:00-12:00p Morning Session
-1:00p Lunch TBA
-3:00-6:00p Afternoon Sesion
-8:00p Farewell Wine Tasting Dinner
Saturday – Departure
-Morning Check-out and departure from Cortona.
NOTE: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary. All times are approximate. NOTE: Walking is required to all lunches and dinners. No transfers are provided, though guests may pay for taxis and transfers at their own expense. NOTE: Transfers from Fira airport to and from hotels is the responsibility of each guest. Arrange through the hotel front desk. NOTE: No refunds are given for any unused aspects of the itinerary or for any activities outside the above itinerary.
About this workshop...
Strongly encourage you to read the Q & A section on the Toscana Americana website.There’s a lot of very helpful information there. Go to FAQ's & A's
DAY 1Saturday
Arrive at Cortona from either Rome or Florence.Toscana Americana welcomes us with wine and chocolate tasting and dinner where we’ll get an opportunity to meet one another in a lovely social setting.
DAY 2Sunday
Our first full day together.Today’s Agenda - Paper MarblingMystery and an easy-to-makes Accordian Book … begin our CreativeSpirituality Journals … join in discussions around ‘creativity.’
DAY 3Monday
Today’s agenda – ArtCardZenz and MandalaZ’s … time with our CreativeSpirituality Journals andPhotoMeditations … join in discussions around ‘artistic blocks’ and ‘fear of success.’
DAY 4Tuesday
Today we visit the historic city of Florence (birthplace of the Renaissance), breathing in the ambience of its culture, history, natural beauty, architecture, art and designs embedded in pavements and buildings.We give ourselves time to “be” as we browse the Uffiza Gallery with its works by Botticelli and Michaelangelo; and visit a bookstore, artist supply shop, a library, museum or simply “people watch.”
DAY 5Wednesday
Today’s agenda – Origami Pop-Out and ‘Ta’Tainer integrating our Paper MarblingMystery, ArtCardZenz and MandalaZ’s experiences … join in discussions … time with our CreativeSpirituality Journals using Soulistry JournalPrompts.
DAY 6Thursday
Today we visit Lago (Lake) Trasimeno as well as Maggiore, its second largest island (Isola) and one-time home of St. Francis of Assisi (Maggiore), reflecting on spirituality, its relevance/influence on our lives and how it is expressed in our art/creativity/lives.
DAY 7Friday
Today’s Agenda – Decorated Envelopes and monoline writing styles … time with our CreativeSpirituality Journals using our quotations …completing an Evaluation Sheet and Letter to Self … ending with a discussion about personal growths/learnings/future plans.
DAY 8 Saturday
Morning comes too soon as we pack up and leave this enchanting place and time, our minds and souls filled with wonder-filled memories, new-found friends, a renewed sense of the creativity which lies within us, and a new awareness of ourselves as creative and spiritual beings.
Participant Supply List
Basic Supply Kit for Soulistry workshop/retreat
White bond A3 pad paper … 4 sheets cut in half or 8” x 10” for easier transporting White multiuse paper … approx. 25-30 sheets White watercolour paper cut… minimum 5 large sheets cut in half or 8” x 10” for easy transport White envelopes … various sizes but none “oversized” White cardstock (8” x 10”)… minimum 20 sheets Blank journal book … spiral bound preferred Looseleaf notebook… with blank pages Binder / Duotang… and small package of subject dividers Clear plastic page protectors… small package Monoline permanent ink pens… Pigma Microns/Pilot G-Techs esp - fine/extra fine Pencils.Ruler.Eraser.Scissors Coloured felt-tipped / gel pens Gluestick … and Glue for embellishments (opt.) Tape (double sided0… flat kind and raised kind) Plastic fork and/or chopstick X-acto/craft knife Bone folder Embossing tool Shaving cream (small can)… foam, not gel Self-healing mat (small) Small watercolour set … basic colours Watercolour brushes … esp. pointed brush and a few larger brushes Water container … small (yogurt/cottage cheese container work well) Small embellishment kit … small buttons, yarn/ribbon scraps, stickers, beads etc. Small empty box … like necklace jewelry box or small giftbox 3-4 quotations or short poems/prose… that you like / relate to Address Book… list of upcoming birthdays/anniversaries for envelope addressing Small & lightweight briefcase/bag … to carry supplies to/from classes
* Dollar Stores are great places to shop for most of the above items.I got everything except pens, watercolour paper, bond paper, journal book and cardstock at my local Dollar Store. * Remember to put sharp and aerosol items (e.g. scissors, x-acto knife, paper cutter, shaving cream can etc.) in your shipped luggage otherwise security will confiscate them.
* If possible, a small paper cutter.
* Don’t forget your camera.A foldable/portable cushion might come in handy if you’re short and tables are high.
* If you have any questions, feel free to contact me … junemaffin at gmail dot com- www.soulistry.com
* Please note: A small supply fee will be payable to instructor at first class to cover special supplies, postage and hand-outphotocopying.
* If you’ve not read the Questions/Answers section on Toscana Americana’s website, hope you will soon (or better yet, print it out).I look forward to meeting you in Italy in 2010!
All-inclusive* workshop includes:
Escorted Group Travel Rome to Cortona (specific date only)**** Five days of instruction Seven nights accommodations in historic Cortona** (Private room & bath) Local Etruscan Museum & Museo Diocesano All meals*** (Italian breakfast, lunch and dinner) Daily wine tasting opportunities Day trip to Florence Day trip to Lago Trasimeno & Isola Maggiore A farewell wine tasting dinner
Enroll as a Group* and save! Enroll 3 or more people for any of our 2011 workshops and save $100.00 per person! *Group discount applies to 3 or more people enrolling together in the same workshop program
Casa Betania... proud partner of Toscana Americana Workshops
Visit Casa Betania online
View from Casa Betania
Meet your hosts in Tuscany...
Angela Lucani was born and raised in Cortona and never tires of living within the walls of this vibrant Tuscan hilltown! She trained as an elementary school teacher and taught in various locals within Cortona from its mountain villages to the growing post-war part of Cortona known as Camucia. Angela has always been passionate about Tuscan cooking, which she began to learn at an early age aiding her mother in the kitchen. She maintains respect for local cooking traditions and recipes and shares that with Italians and foreign visitors through cooking classes conducted both in Italy and in America. She has extensive knowledge of Cortona's various areas, from the mountains to the fertile Val di Chiana, and continues to learn about its long and colorful history. She is also passionate about travel and enjoys learning about and experiencing customs, traditions and characteristics of other countries, cultures & people. Her travels destinations have included the United States, England, Egypt, South America, France, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Greece. She enjoys serving as a bridge between visitors to Tuscany and the local culture.
Patrick Mahoney (Miami University BA'80, MA'82) lives in Cortona where he continues a thirty-year career in the field of Arts & Entertainment producing events, workshops and tours and providing opportunities to share the Italy experience with travelers, artists and people who share his interests for foods, wine, art, culture. Patrick's passion is to conceive and realize various ways in which the human spirit can express and demonstrate its capacity to create. His ability to fearlessly think, conceive, and work "out of the box" has earned him the attention of artists & musicians, colleges & universities, public & private organizations, and business and industry. Patrick brings integrity and a unique vision to Toscana Americana and he is committed to realizing the opportunity for participants to create in an atmosphere of peace, joy, respect and mutual support. As a "slow traveler" and a supporter of "slow food" Mr. Mahoney rides trains, walks, lingers over lunch, dinner or a cup of espresso, stops to smell the roses and savors the sensory feast wherever he is!
About Cortona...
Cortona is one of the true jewels of the Tuscan “hill towns.” Cortona, which is often called the “City of Art,” has its origin as an Etruscan city that pre-dates Roman times with sections of its walls dating back some 2500 years. As is typical of Tuscan hill-towns, Cortona is a walled city that, for purposes of defense, was built atop a prominent geographical point. The stone buildings and streets not only have the romance, style, and charm that are particular to Tuscany, but also speak of the lives and times Cortona has witnessed. An encounter with Cortona is an encounter with music & art, with history and with spirituality. Getting to know this timeless city is a real rediscovery of our past. Cortona offers testimony to its history as well as an enchanting view of the landscape enclosed by Lake Trasimeno and the Apennine mountains.
