Present Sense

Kate Talbott, who runs the Present Sense space at 42nd and Woodland Park Ave. N. wrote us recently about what she’s created down that way. Here’s what she had to say:

I started Present Sense because I wanted a place to do the things I loved with other people: make art, write, practice mindfulness, and create community. These practices have brought so much richness and meaning to my life, and I am thrilled to have the chance to give back some of what I have received.

Making art is one way of waking up and being fully alive, and being a fully-alive, aware human being is at the heart of everything we do here. Classes support you in claiming your personal creative process and using it to cultivate self awareness and your connection to others. No special skills are required to attend classes, as artistic expression is a natural ability in each of us. You will be invited to use this ability to listen deeply to your own voice and nurture and express what is alive in you.

Though there is nothing “safe” about art, we do strive to make this a place where it is safe for you to experiment and where all the parts of yourself are important. We also hope that creating a space where different disciplines are taught side by side will foster valuable cross-fertilization. Surprise and serendipity are important parts of learning.

From the beginning this has been a place that has grown out of the amazing community of people in which I am fortunate to live.  I love having a space to bring together the energy of all the learners – teachers and students – I know. I hope you will join us!

Over the past two years, the space has evolved into an informal collective of artists, teachers and seekers creating community by offering classes and events in art, mindfulness, sound, breath, and other creative and healing modalities.  We have recently started a free community salon series on the second Friday of the month that is hosted by the renters at the space.  Upcoming Salons include:

• October 14th: Denis Auld offering a class in Touch Drawing.
• November 11th: Valerie Piacenti offering Relaxing to Gregorian Chants
• December 9th: Artist’s Way teacher Kate Gavigan hosting Use Your Outside Voice: An evening of informal performance.  

I am still getting the information up on the website about the salons, so stay tuned about that.

These are some examples of the kinds of classes we have coming up:

• The Artist’s Way Class taught by Kate Gavigan starts on Friday, Sept 23 at 10 a.m. – noon and runs for 12 weeks
• Painting from the Fire Within: Process Painting Workshop taught by Gail Baker is Saturday, Sept 24 from 10 – 4 pm
• Circle of Sound led by Valerie Piacenti is Tuesday, Sept 27 from 7 – 8 pm
• Mini Mindfulness Retreat hosted by Katie Talbott is Friday, Oct 7 from 1 – 4 pm

We also have some regular drop-in groups:  There is a community mindfulness practice group at 8:30 – 9:20 every Wednesday and Friday morning and an open AA meeting on Sundays at 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

We have decided who is teaching what for the next 6 months, but I am still collecting details from the facilitators about their offerings.

Thanks,

Katie