ART AS A WAY OF KNOWING: A Summer Series of Creative and Spiritual Workshops
Have you had a chance to take a look at the Workshops that Rev. Danah Cox is doing over the summer? There are eight in total, with the first one starting on July 10th and running through until the end of August. You can sign up for all eight, or pick the ones that excite you and sign up individually. More information is below but their is something for everyone; whether you prefer taking pictures, experiencing art through prayer or rolling up your sleeves and working with clay.
At McDougall, these workshops are happening on Friday nights (5:30 pm - 8:00 pm). If Friday’s don’t work, the same workshops are being presented at Red Deer Lake on Saturday (11:30 am - 2:00 pm). A simple meal will be provided each week. There is no cost to these workshops. There are limited spots though so please sign up if you are planning to attend.
There is some information on the registration page but we wanted to give you more information about the workshops overall below. Next week, we will start providing information about each of the individual workshops, stay tuned.
ART AS A WAY OF KNOWING
A Summer Series of Creative and Spiritual Workshops
At McDougall United Church
Fridays | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
At Red Deer Lake United Church
Saturdays | 11:30 AM – 2 PM
As we grow older, it becomes increasingly important to find activities that keep us engaged, connected, curious, and open to new experiences. There is much research to suggests that creative activity can support healthy aging by promoting cognitive flexibility, emotional well-being, stress reduction, social connection, and lifelong learning. Engaging in creative practices encourages the brain to form new neural pathways, helping us remain adaptable, attentive, and mentally active throughout our lives.
While no activity can guarantee protection from dementia or cognitive decline, many indicators point to the value of learning new skills, exercising the imagination, maintaining social connections, and participating in meaningful activities. Creativity naturally brings all of these elements together. It invites us to remain curious, continue growing, and engage with life rather than retreating from it.
Creativity also offers something many people find themselves searching for during retirement and other major life transitions: a renewed sense of purpose. After decades spent building careers, raising families, caring for others, and meeting responsibilities, many people begin to ask deeper questions. Who am I beyond what I do? What gifts have I not yet explored? What parts of myself have been waiting patiently for attention?
This is where creativity becomes much more than a hobby.
As children, we create naturally. We draw, imagine, build, and explore without worrying whether what we make is good enough. We create because it is joyful. We create because we are curious. We create because it helps us make sense of the world around us.
As adults, life often teaches us to become productive rather than creative. We learn to solve problems, meet deadlines, care for others, and fulfill responsibilities. These are important skills, but somewhere along the way many of us stop drawing, stop imagining, and stop creating. We begin to believe that creativity belongs to artists, when in fact it belongs to everyone.
Yet creativity is not something we outgrow. It is not a luxury. It is a vital part of being human.
In the second half of life, we are offered a unique opportunity—not to become children again, but to become whole. To reignite our creative self that many of us have lost.
These workshops are designed especially for those who may not think of themselves as artists. In fact, they may be most valuable for people who feel intimidated by art, are convinced they are not creative, or have not picked up a pencil in years. If you find yourself saying, "I'm not artistic," you may be exactly the person these workshops were designed for.
The workshops are based on a simple idea: Art is a way of knowing.
Art helps us pay attention. It helps us notice what we are feeling, remember what matters, deepen our spiritual lives, and reconnect with wonder, imagination, and community. Art can become a form of meditation, a way of listening, and a way of discovering aspects of ourselves that words alone cannot always reach.
Through simple artistic activities, conversation, and creative exploration, we will explore memory, identity, spirituality, imagination, gratitude, loss, hope, and personal growth. Many of the activities draw inspiration from community-building exercises, contemplative practices, and art therapy approaches, creating opportunities for reflection and connection in a safe and welcoming environment.
The first four weeks are designed as "art lessons with training wheels on." These sessions are intentionally gentle, fun, playful, healing, and accessible to every skill level. No artistic experience is required. Through simple exercises and group activities, participants will have the opportunity to loosen up, overcome the fear of making art, and rediscover the joy of creating alongside others.
As the summer progresses, participants will be given increasing freedom to experiment with drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and personal expression. The emphasis throughout is not on artistic talent or producing beautiful objects. Rather, it is about paying attention, expressing what is within us, connecting with others, and participating in the creative nature of life itself.
The series will be facilitated by Rev. Danah Cox, who holds both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Divinity degree. Drawing upon years of experience in both the visual arts and spiritual formation, Danah hopes to guide participants throughout the journey, helping them to explore creativity as a pathway toward greater self-understanding, spiritual reflection, and personal growth.
You are welcome to attend a single session or join us for the entire series. Registration is greatly appreciated to help anticipate supplies needed, but not strictly required.
No artistic experience is necessary. Bring only your curiosity and a willingness to explore. After all, a pencil, a blank sheet of paper, and a little curiosity may be all that is needed to begin discovering something that has been waiting within you for years.
