Art as Prayer (in-person and Zoom)

Name: Art as Prayer (in-person and Zoom)
Start: 2025-08-18T18:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-08-18T19:30:00-05:00
Location: Franciscan Spirituality Center

Schedule

Mon Aug 18 2025 at 06:00 pm to 07:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Franciscan Spirituality Center | La Crosse, WI

Artistic expression offers the opportunity for spiritual growth, transformation and healing. This monthly open watercolor studio is a chance to play and learn new techniques without worrying about perfection or finished product. Meet new friends and practice listening to your heart as you paint.
You are invited to attend any or all sessions. Participants ages 8-16 may attend for free with a paid adult.
Instructor: Mary Thompson
Investment: $15
www.FSCenter.org | 608-791-5295
Direct link to registration (in-person): https://fsc.retreatportal.com/calendar/event?programcode=25SVD09315

Direct link to registration (Zoom): https://fsc.retreatportal.com/calendar/event?programcode=25SVD09309

“I pray to the birds because I believe they will carry the messages of my heart upward. I pray to them because I believe in their existence, the way their songs begin and end each day. The invocations and benedictions of the Earth. I pray to the birds because they remind me of what I love rather than what I fear. And at the end of my prayers, they teach me how to listen.” – Terry Tempest Williams
Sun-soaked summer squash; rosy, red strawberries and radiant peonies; the cool green hues of the Earth. And birds. Lovely, colorful friends of the sky. With reverence for nature and the opportunity to explore through our senses, our spiritual practice this summer will involve creating a personal art journal. Devoting time to a ritual of drawing, painting and journaling awakens the creative spirit and nourishes the relationship with our Divine Companion. In class, we will be working from life. Some objects will be provided (old birds’ nests, feathers, flowers, etc.), but feel free to gather your own. Those joining us on Zoom will need to. For working outside, consider using an old backpack or canvas bag to store your materials. You’ll be able to grab it and go when the spirit calls you. Be open to exploring mixed mediums.
NOTE: You'll need a multimedia art book, such as Canson XL Mix Media Art Book (spiral-bound, 7-by-10 or 9-by-12 inches) or Canson Mixed Media Artist Series (spiral-bound, 5.5-by-8.5 inches)
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES: pencils, drawing pens, colored pencils, pastels, brushes, watercolor paint, water bucket or container with lid, rags or paper towels. (Supplies are provided for in-person participants.)
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Mary Thompson has a degree in fine arts and a master’s degree in education, having delighted in the creative arts since her first box of crayons. Besides teaching art to all ages, Mary has supported the healing of women in recovery through the practice of art therapy. She also has been an affiliate of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration for more than a decade.