November Nights: Drawing in the Dark

Join us for two lightly guided drawing meditations—one at sunset and one at night—to slow down and document what we see when the light fades.

Bring your paper and journals and pens and mark-making tools of choice — we’re drawing together as an act of attention fitness.

Drawing as moving meditation.

Drawing to feel the sensation of pen to page.

Drawing to hone inner and outer vision.

Drawing because everyone gets to make marks in the dark.

Two sessions to play:

The Sundown Session >> Sunday, November 2 // 5-6:30

Arrive to the Anchor in the golden melt of sundown, let your eyes acclimate.

We’ll co-construct our Altar of Attention, also known as a still life - bring special items from home or whatever granola bar wrapper that’s crumpled in the bottom of your bag. Put it on the altar, let it become a tiny sculptural testament to your living. Then we draw! We elevate the ordinary! We look for longer than usual!

Drink tea, be bad at art. We are not making art, we are engaged in the act of prolonged noticing and making marks as the light changes around us. We’ll marvel at each other’s marks by candlelight when it’s time.

Please bring your own drawing supplies and an item or two to add to our group Altar of Attention.

Expect drawing prompts and a somatic approach to translating what you see into lines on a page.

You can do it, no drawing expertise required.

The Void Session >> Saturday, November 29 // 7-8:30

Return at month’s end as we up the ante and go full Darkness mode with pen in hand.

This time we turn our attention to what we see in our inner world. What arrives to our eyes when all the light is extinguished. How do you draw a feeling? How do you draw a dream? What is the contour of the present moment? We’ll draw in short bursts, and then in longer dives, letting ourselves get lost in the sensuous black of night. We’ll track it, map it, shape it—if ever it could be shaped—then come up for air to speak of what we saw. Who knows what will happen! No thinking, just drawing. Our hands lead the way.

Please bring your own drawing supplies.

Who is leading these sessions:

Melissa Word is an artist, dancer, movement facilitator, writer, and death doula. Read more about her work HERE (www.melissaword.com)

photo credit: Florencia Martina

Please contact [email protected] with any accessibility questions or other concerns.

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