What are Expressive Arts?
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Any art form including at least one of these: witnessing images, making scenes or “worlds” in a tray of sand, drawing, painting, creating 3-dimensional objects, cutting out images, collaging, taking photos, writing a journal, story, music, or poetry, singing, listening to music, playing an instrument, witnessing nature, mindful walking and movement, dancing, and more.
Who benefits from Expressive Arts?
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Some people believe that the expressive arts experience is only for children, but, in fact, adults get a great deal of meaning out of this practice. No matter what your age or experience, you can gain insight into thoughts and feelings that aren’t always clear to you or that you aren’t quite able to express.
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Our culture has layered criticism and judgment on what it labels “art” or “creativity,” however Dreamweaver Studio stands apart in being comparison- and competition-free. People who feel stuck in their lives and want to open up creative flow will find a home here.
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If you tend to overthink your problems or cover up your emotions with intellectual explanations, this may be a place where you can become better self-expressed. Sometimes a rigid belief will hold you back, make you doubt your abilities, or make you unhappy for no apparent reason. You can experiment to see what you truly want out of your life, break free from limiting beliefs, and get a better vision of what you want for yourself by exploring your ideas with expressive arts.
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Sometimes a person feels overcome by their feelings and has trouble cutting through the chaotic cloud of emotions that limits their view. In Dreamweaver Studio, you can find peace and calm so you can center yourself and find your direction.
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When the path ahead seems confusing or uncertain, you may find it easier to focus on what counts for you by engaging in a hands-on activity. Expressive arts at Dreamweaver Studio can help you enter a new space, an alternative mindset, and chart your own course ahead.
How can Expressive Arts help me?
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You experience being mindful, present, and open to being inspired.
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Expressive arts can jog the “cogs” of your mind by integrating body movement, emotions, and sensations with your upper level brain––the part that helps you use logic, make sense of the past, and put past events back where they belong: back into the past.
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You get a new perspective on what’s going on inside by making something that you can see outside of yourself and your thoughts.
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You get tangible proof of your healing process and how far you've progressed toward your goals.
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You take pride in the product you've created and recognize it as an accomplishment.
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You gain insight into your present life and envision possibilities for the future.
Why Dreamweaver Studio?
If you've ever wished that you could see a clearer picture of your deepest dreams and thoughts, but haven't yet found a way to hear your heartfelt messages, you can uncover your authentic self using creative expression at Dreamweaver Studio, a workshop situated in a cozy home in the hills of Montville, just west of Belfast, Maine.
You don't need special skills or experience to use you intuition to connect to your inner world. Here we use a technique called "expressive sand tray" where you build scenes and stories using miniature figures and symbolic items to show your thoughts, perceptions, feelings, and imagination. The foundation is a small tabletop tray of sand that holds whatever is on your mind or in your heart.
There’s no right or wrong way to do it, and no interpretation. Only you know what your work means. You might choose to journal about your creation or simply witness it. This is a soothing and enjoyable experience that helps you open up to your expressive self. When you let go and go with the flow, you discover the magic of your own light!