Creative UpWelling Art Therapy

03/25/2025

In the midst of everything that is happening in our world, what are you longing for?

This is a challenging time for many of us. How do we show up in our lives so that we can meet this moment with presence and commitment?

One thing I know is that we are stronger together. So I was excited when activist, somatic educator and movement therapist Denise Nadeau reached out to me with the idea for this practice series.

I said yes right away, in part, because "Collective Care for a Time of Rising Fascism" is what I need, too.

Join Denise and me in person for 6 Thursdays starting April 10, 4-6 pm, Victoria, BC, Canada.

The practices draw on art therapy (me) and active mindfulness and somatics (Denise). No art or movement experience is necessary.

We're glad to have the support of The Abbey; they help us keep the costs down. Your sliding scale contribution covers art supplies and snacks.

For more information: https://buytickets.at/creativeupwellingarttherapy/1588477

05/13/2022

Such a meaningul & beautiful art project:

04/21/2022

Earth altars are a practice of co-creating art with the earth. Thanks to Laura Loescher and the Grateful Living Network for this beautiful Earth Day practice for grounding and renewal.

What started as a “hobby” for my own healing and resiliency turned into something that could soothe and inspire others. It has connected me so much more deeply with the natural world and with my sense of place.

06/29/2021

What is on your heArt right now?
heARTSpace studio is a new drop-in online art studio on Wednesday evenings. All are welcome, pay what you can. This is an opportunity to make art in community -- to be held and encouraged. Fyre Jean and Virginia are both wonderful facilitators!
Details in the post below.

What is worth arting for? We are offering an online artspace Wednesday evenings: heARTSpace Studio ❤ Each week’s gathering will be themed and facilitated by an artist / heARTivist, art or expressive arts therapist to raise consciousness on resonant social justice themes to be explored through inter-modal expressive arts.

This Wednesday, June 30th will be led by Dr. Fyre Jean Graveline and Virginia Jahyu. Fyre invites you to "Share your HeARTs with us. Join us. Contribute to the Memorial Gallery. Let us build a heARTfelt community of Care. Surrounding all with Truth. Love and Light. for all “the Lost Ones”. safe journey home to Creator. for all Grieving Families and Communities. Healing Circles of Comfort. for all Canadians. Wake up. Embrace our Shadow. Become Lighter."

All are welcome! Join us in diverse creative community held by gentle care, radical commitment, and open-heartedness. There is no better time to stART! Registration is open through our Online Wellness Centre: https://www.wheatinstitute.com/online-art-therapy

06/16/2021

When i Heard. The Recent Horrific News….
i Took it. Directly. to my Heart. my heARTs.
i Grabbed. my Food Paints. my BlueberryBeet. and Made.
a Pour.
on a Big Page. This. is a Big Event. Wake Up. Canada.
i Pray
- Dr Fyre Jean Graveline (excerpt)

This has been such a heavy couple of weeks. My school, the WHEAT institute, is putting together an online gallery of art made in response to the news of the 215 children found in unmarked graves near the Kamloops Residential School. All are welcome to contribute.

* The Survivors crisis line is open 24 hours a day & 7 days a week: 1-800-721-0066
* The National Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419

Tainsi, Greetings to all.

This is a call out for all who are inspired to contribute to an Online Memorial Gallery. We are creating this Memorial Gallery to acknowledge the pain, grief, outrage, shame and blame currently being resurfaced with the recent horrific news of the children found buried at Residential Schools. Simultaneously we wish to honor the trauma and the strength of Survivors and Descendants and bring much needed attention the ongoing Legacy of the Indian Residential School Era, to make visible the continuing ripple effects into our shared worlds today, and to commit to ongoing reconcileActions to do our part to bring awareness to and make change in all of our circles of influence.

To encourage the launch of the Memorial Gallery, Dr. Fyre Jean Graveline, Lead of Indigenized Healing Arts Programming at WHEAT Institute, wishes to offer this Response Art, an Eco-Art Image, created with Food Paints, with an accompanying Poetic Inquiry you can read and hear in our Memorial Gallery: https://www.wheatinstitute.com/memorial-gallery

We encourage you to send in your heARTfelt contributions to info@wheatinstitute.com

05/20/2021

PAWS your stress! Did .you know that interacting with animals helps us lower our stress? Not all of us are able to have animals in our homes. That's where online therapy dogs come in ... go to https://therapydogs.ca/ and you will find lots of fun ways to reduce stress, including online guided relaxation with dogs, lots of pre-recorded videos (dogs napping, dogs being read to). There are even facebook live events where you can interact with the therapy dogs and their handlers.

Reduce Your Stress with Online Therapy Dog Activities

05/18/2021

Register for individual and group art and expressive arts sessions facilitated by WHEAT students: https://www.wheatinstitute.com/online-art-therapy

05/18/2021

Bonnie and I are offering a healing art afternoon next Sunday, May 30, from 2-5 Mountain time (also Saskatchewan time). There will be time for art-making and for connecting with other women. We will be doing some eco-art, which means some of the time you will be outside exploring the natural world, wherever you are situated!
All who identify as women are welcome.
PM me for details.

04/13/2021

"...after reading a lot of Roxane Gay and bell hooks, I started thinking through the idea that actually rest and joy can be a form of resistance"
An interview with Bahamian artist Gio Swaby.

A first solo exhibition by the Bahamian artist Gio Swaby aims to redefine the often politicized Black body.

04/06/2021

Make some time for yourself - a colleague and I are offering a Women's Expressive Art Circle, starting next Tuesday, April 13, 8-9:30 mountain time (also SK time!).
Each week we will explore a different theme. No art experience necessary.
Maximum 12 women.
PM me if you'd like details!

03/02/2021

Click on the link to learn more about art therapy ...
https://youtu.be/pdiVQqfXzDU

WHAT IS ART THERAPY AND HOW IT WORKS | In this introduction to art therapy video, I share what art therapy is, its definition, and how art therapy works, inc...