Good art and writing draw us into the experiences of another. But what if it jolts the reader or viewer out, making them feel othered instead? We will explore blind spots, stereotypes, and biases in popular media (and ourselves) that may alienate audiences. We will then explore techniques to create, instead, authentic inclusivity to draw and maintain a wider audience. Bring a sketchbook and/or notebook.

Born in Egypt, Mary Silwance lives in Kansas City and is a mother of three daughters. She works in adult education and facilities workshops on writing as well as ecology. Mary serves on the editorial teams of Whispering Prairie Press and Flying Ketchup Press. Through FKP,  she conceptualized and was editor of Of Our Own Accord, an anthology of women’s embodied experiences. Mary recently published her first full-length collection of poetry, We Remember Ourselves. You can find her publications, radio, and zoom presentations as well as workshop offerings at https://www.marysilwance.com. Mary’s work focuses on the intertwining of personal and collective emancipation to create a lush future for all beings.

During the first part of our workshop, we will utilize a speed dating format to generate robust material that captures your essence. We will then chisel the material generated from quirky interview questions and hilarious freewriting prompts into vivid, precise, and compelling artist bios and statements. Bring a sketchbook and/or notebook.

Born in Egypt, Mary Silwance lives in Kansas City and is a mother of three daughters. She works in adult education and facilities workshops on writing as well as ecology. Mary serves on the editorial teams of Whispering Prairie Press and Flying Ketchup Press. Through FKP,  she conceptualized and was editor of Of Our Own Accord, an anthology of women’s embodied experiences. Mary recently published her first full-length collection of poetry, We Remember Ourselves. You can find her publications, radio, and zoom presentations as well as workshop offerings at https://www.marysilwance.com. Mary’s work focuses on the intertwining of personal and collective emancipation to create a lush future for all beings. 

Encaustic Collage Workshop with Robin VanHoozer

$75 per student

Participants should bring collage materials and basic art supplies to the class.

Adding encaustic to your collage making can take many forms. This workshop will use encaustic throughout the collage process. Encaustic items can also be added to other collages made from other materials by several different techniques, such as, nails, tacks, threads, etc.

Encaustic paint is beeswax, resin, and pigment and has been used since ancient times. The paint is heated and the layers are fused with heat. Encaustic medium is beeswax and medium without the pigment.

The beauty of encaustic is that it is very versatile and lends itself well to collage making. We will learn various techniques and best practices for adding encaustic to your studio practice. The goal of this workshop is to demonstrate how to incorporate elements of encaustic to your work.

Unleash your inner artist in our exciting Spontaneous Realism painting workshop!

Courses led by artist Matthew Paden

Tickets are $60 per student (Supplies provided)

Over four hours, you'll dive into this bold and expressive art style that blends realism with vivid, abstract colors. Guided by an experienced instructor, you'll explore creative techniques, unleash your imagination, and transform your unique vision into stunning artwork.

Whether you're a seasoned painter or just starting out, this workshop promises inspiration, creativity, and a lot of fun. Don't miss this chance to add a splash of spontaneity to your artistic journey!

*Spontaneous Realism is a contemporary abstract style of acrylic painting with palette knives on canvas. Bright vivid colors and expressive marks define this style of painting. The idea is to get the student artists to cut loose and get them to paint expressively, but with intent.

Supplies provided: Canvas, brushes, palette knives, and acrylic paint plus water cups and spray bottles. Sourced reference image will also be provided to each student to work from.

Where does identity come from? How can language eclipse or amplify who we are? We will playfully disassemble common markers of identity to reconstruct identity from our wildest dreams and highest hopes for ourselves. Bring a sketchbook and/or notebook.

Born in Egypt, Mary Silwance lives in Kansas City and is a mother of three daughters. She works in adult education and facilities workshops on writing as well as ecology. Mary serves on the editorial teams of Whispering Prairie Press and Flying Ketchup Press. Through FKP,  she conceptualized and was editor of Of Our Own Accord, an anthology of women’s embodied experiences. Mary recently published her first full-length collection of poetry, We Remember Ourselves. You can find her publications, radio, and zoom presentations as well as workshop offerings at https://www.marysilwance.com. Mary’s work focuses on the intertwining of personal and collective emancipation to create a lush future for all beings.