When people say they aren't creative, I question the scope of what they believe creativity to be. There are a million ways to utilize creativity as an outlet.
Echo students are offered opportunities to try many different mediums. Pottery. Baking. Pour painting. Collage. Candle stick making. Role Play Games (RPGs).
Monday nights, Tom, our faithful director and game maker, provides students an opportunity to create their own character and fantasy world through RPGs. This was all new to me when I began my work with Echo more than two years ago now.
The most amazing thing to me about RPG's is the way the character creation tells the story of the student's hopes, goals, and inner workings that they can express in this format. Each character is so unique, it goes way beyond a simple game. It is so intriguing!
On Tuesdays, the students work with our community partner, Chanar, to create pottery in her studio. She has a kiln to fire the pieces the students create. They return to their pieces to paint and personalize them.
Not only do they learn artistic modality, but they build a relationship with Chanar and her cute dog!
Chanar runs a booth at the local farmer's market and art events in town. We're all looking forward to selling some of the pieces we've made when life opens back up.
Wednesday and Thursday night, the students each choose a meal to make for the group meals, find the recipes and run the process for the evening. Cooking and baking are forms of art themselves. Preparing and sharing meals with each other is also an expression of friendship and connection.
Miyah, our energetic staff member, creates the sweets with students every Tuesday night after Pottery.
There are physical forms of artistry. We practice yoga and climb at the local climbing gym, The Front.
You may not initially think climbing an art form, but it is. Our current students have all received their belay certification and work with each other... literally hold each other up as we all learn to climb.
Yoga is also a physical practice that moves creative energy through the body. The bend and sway and camaraderie of a yoga class reveals a whole different aspect of expression.
The Front gym offers both yoga and climbing, strength training and Jiu Jitsu. Right now, classes are offered through Zoom if going to the physical location isn't working. There's something for everyone... and comfy mats for resting between events.
