Therapeutic Sculpting in Hamden

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10418424_10154939442340352_584769673367723567_nI often speak about the cognitive, affective, physical, and spiritual benefits of the sculpting process. Sunday, August 21st, from 5-7 pm, we will be celebrating a therapeutic sculpting night in Hamden, CT. What is the difference between this event and the other sculpting events? In other sculpting events we focus more on techniques for sculpting specific projects. For the therapeutic sculpting, we will be focusing more on the process than the product.

The therapeutic sculpting in Hamden will focus on developing awareness in the connection with ourselves and the clay as a symbol of our connection with our immediate world. As our hands touch the clay, we will explore sensations in our hands, muscles, posture, mood, emotions, and other physical experiences. We will also explore our thoughts in the process. It is the goal of this event to allow us to experience and describe what happens with us and within us as we sculpt in a judgement free environment.

This event is available for only 10 participants in a first come, first serve basis. Individuals interested in this event can get more information here or by emailing questions, and must RSVP to participate. I am sure this is going to be an unforgettable time. Join us!

Guest Post

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The artist and his artFirst, I want to apologize for my sporadic absence in this blog. I’ve been busy and honestly, I had no inspiration to write. Last week I completed 3 paintings and this week 1 sculpture (after destroying a nearly finished one). I’ve been also working on the sculpting and painting parties, and also started teaching a basic computer skills class for the Literacy Center of Milford. Soon I’ll be announcing a group art show in New Haven. Before that show, I’ll be speaking at The Grove in New Haven May 21st, and where we are holding our Sculpting Night, Friday, April 24 (get the information and RSVP here). Speaking of which, better than writing a blog about oneself or what is going on is to read when someone writes about it. I want to share this guest post article with you: Sculpt Your Brain. Enjoy it! Let me know what you think about it.

April Events

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11046452_10150556432919956_256256277014538678_nIt is almost unbelievable that April is already here. It seems like yesterday we celebrated New Years and we already went through 93 days out of 365 of the year. That left us with 272 days left for 2015 to be over. March was a very busy month ending with a fantastic private painting party with the ladies of the Orange Chamber of Commerce. April began with a great sculpting party at Cafe Atlantique in Milford, CT. We had a great time. The April events continue and I will encourage you to join the fun. We are going from Milford, CT to Monroe and New Haven.

First, we will be back at Cafe Atlantique April 16 for a painting party. We have a few spaces left. The next day we go to Monroe for a sculpting party at Grandma Josie’s. It is going to be our first time sculpting there. We had a few painting parties that went great. Call and sign up. Friday, April 24 we go to New Haven for a sculpting party at The Grove. For all these events you must RSVP.

11082603_10150553016684956_8808618767892817436_n-2I am glad I get the chance to do this and share this time with you. It is not just about sculpting and painting as it is as investing time in yourself. When was the last time you didn’t check your phone for 2 hours? When was the last time you disconnected from everything? The results are satisfactory not only in the results of the artwork, but also in how you feel about yourself. It is a great experience for all of us. I really enjoy each one of these events. You can also request a private party for your organization or group.

Those Smiles

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We had a great sculpting night at Café Atlantique (33 River St, Milford, CT) last Wednesday night. We had so much fun. It was an awesome group. Some people cancelled because of impending weather but we just got some rain during the event and things were warm and cozy inside as people sipped some wine, had a good cappuccino, and sculpted a female torso. Those two hours go by so fast by the end of it people want to stay a little longer. The smiles at the end are so satisfying to me. It is worth every minute of it.

11010593_10155293483370352_7440515067777015510_nThere is so much more to it than just sculpting. People discover a new way of relaxing and having a good time. The opportunity to socialize is great since people can’t really be on their phones that much unless they want clay all over it. Above all of that there is a sense of challenge and satisfaction that grows inside. You can see it in their faces. They are challenging themselves to transmit to their hands what they see with their eyes and what they perceive with their minds. Once immerse in it time flies by. Two hours don’t seem enough when people is having fun.

march 4bFor me is a little longer than two hours. I have to prepare the bases we use, make sure the supplies are ready, and get there earlier to set up. During the party I’m trying to keep them entertained telling stories and making jokes (that’s the stand up comedy reminiscences in me). At the end I stay longer to help clean up and organize. It is a lot of work and not as easy as it might look, but I love it so much. Those smiles at the end are so satisfying to me. It is worth every minute of it. The comments the day after and beyond are very encouraging. Can’t wait to do it again.

Check out the next sculpting and painting parties.

Those Drawings

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I’ve been drawing the last few days a little more. Drawing always takes me back to the college years when I walked around with my sketchbook just like Jack Dawson, the character played by Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic. Those drawings also looked very similar. Drawing was a daily activity at any given chance. I don’t think I developed a classical drawing technique but I always had fun.

It is always interesting to see people’s reactions. The reaction to those drawings is still the same today after 20 years. I wish I knew back then about attribution theory, although I think I asked the right questions to their curious and judgmental questions about the nude figure. People ask why are the drawings nude and why I don’t draw clothes on them. My answer is that I’m a figure artist and not a fashion designer. I wonder if people ask OB-GYN physicians to change their specialty to something less intrusive.

People assume that because the drawing is a nude figure it is something impure, dirty, or sexual. This is not surprising in a society that measures the value of a human being based on their sexuality and not in the intrinsic value as a person. The figure is just visually interesting. The human body is a beautiful thing. No, I don’t see people naked when I walk around. I don’t have x-ray vision. I guess, and attribution theory comes to play again, that people see the way they see because of who they are. People will produce and interpret things based on their condition. However, the intentions of the heart are exposed to One and I am not the One to judge or justify.