The creative arts are a wonderful opportunity to express individuality and be the sole creator of something beautiful that never before existed.  The act of creating something new, using materials with your own form of personal expression, can be very therapeutic and empowering.  Our projects have very flexible goals so that even those with limited experience, or limited abilities, can succeed in creating.  We demonstrate the techniques and guide the group through the learning process.  Our individual assistance helps take the fear out of getting started, even if this is their first art project.  And if anyone is having trouble seeing or using their hands, we can help them make it.  We can also hold an art party at the end of the class, with all of the students’ work on display.  The parties are a wonderful way for them and their families to learn new things about each other.

All programs are available in-person or by video

All programs can also be done outdoors in nice weather or with overhead cover, except Soap Making

Click on the categories below, or scroll down, for a full program list

• Art History And Culture
• Card Making
• Origami
• Drawing
• Painting
• Printing
• Soap Making
• Wreath Making
• Holiday Art Programs

ART HISTORY AND CULTURE

• Fun with Art History  This class explores the life and work of one particular artist (various artists are available). Participants will learn about the artist’s art and life, and will then explore his/her work through a hands-on art project. The class helps participants to reestablish ties with the past while becoming familiar with the special techniques of the artist. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)
  • GEORGIA O’KEEFFE – American painter became famous for her larger than life flower paintings and of desert scenes and objects. Participants will draw a flower as if looking at it through a magnifying glass and color it in with craypas, paint or colored pencils. ( 1 hour class plus $2 per person for materials)
  • VINCENT van GOGH – Dutch painter famous for his bold brush strokes and vivid colors. Participants will recreate Starry, Starry Night (their own interpretation) using craypas on paper. ( 1 hour class plus $2 per person for materials)
  • GEORGES SEURAT – French painter known for his “dot” paintings. Participants will create a simple picture using q-tips as their paint brush. Using just primary colors, new colors will be formed by placing the dots very close together which will give the illusion of a different color. ( 1 hour class plus $ 3 per person for materials)
  • JOHN JAMES AUDUBON American painter who concentrated on painting all the birds of America true to size in their natural habitat. Participants will paint a bird of their choice using watercolor paints or colored pencil. – ( 1 hour class plus $3 per person for materials)
  • PABLO PICASSO – Spanish Cubist painter who simplified objects and people to geometric shapes. Participants will study the painting The Three Musicians and create a collage of cut colored paper of a musician and their instrument. ( 1 hour class plus $2.50 per person for materials)
• American Folk Art
  Discover the beginnings of American Folk Art and why it is still so popular today. Students will learn interesting facts of American history while creating their own Folk Art piece using different techniques and supplies.
  
  • Heart & Hand Paper Valentine – Tokens of love, friendship or an expression of esteem were very popular during the 18th and 19th centuries. Students will trace and cut their own hand or use a hand stencil using red or white paper. A paper heart will be cut to decorate the hand. A simple weaving technique will be used on the wrist part of the glove to finish it off. (1 hour class plus $2 per person for materials)
  • Sailor’s Treasure Box – While on whaling or cargo ships for months or years at a time, sailors needed a hobby to occupy their off-duty time.  Small wooden boxes were carved and decorated with shells and flowers, and brought home to their loved ones. Students will decorate a cardboard box using paint, shells and ribbon. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)

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CARD MAKING

• Greeting Cards  – Make your own unique greeting cards for any special occasion or “just because”. We will use a combination of stamping, painting, stenciling, and other decorative techniques to create one-of-a-kind designs. (1 hour class plus $3.50 per person materials fee for 3 cards and envelopes per person)

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ORIGAMI

Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper to create abstract animals, birds, flowers and other objects. Participants will learn about the history of Origami and will then create a project of their own. Both basic and intermediate projects are available, depending on the abilities of the participants. (1 hour class plus $1.50 per person for materials)

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DRAWING

• Line – Discover the many wonderful things a line can be: straight, wavy, zig zag, and spiral. Using paper and an assortment of drawing tools we will explore the rich variety of the simple line. You may also choose to create a mandala or spiral design. (1 hour class plus $2 per person for materials)
• Stenciling – Using either the positive or negative portion of a stencil shape, stencil designs are a fun and easy way to use paint, markers, crayons and colored pencils. Stenciling can be done on fabric as well as paper. (1 hour class plus $2 per person for materials)

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PAINTING

• Flower Pot Painting – Acrylic paint is applied to a clay flower pot, then decorated with stencils or free-hand painting to create a one of a kind container for your favorite plant. (1 hour class plus $4 per person for materials)
• Mini Birdhouse Decorating – Pre-made mini birdhouses are painted and decorated with various embellishments. The birdhouses look lovely on a shelf, or nestled among your houseplants. (1 hour class plus $3 per person for materials)
• Painted Rock Cactus Garden – Oddly shaped rocks are painted to look like cacti, and glued to a bed of sand. This garden makes a nice decorative piece with no care required! (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)

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PRINTING

• Stamp Printing – Personalized stamp images are designed and cut out of foam sheets, then glued onto blocks of wood.  The stamps are then inked onto paper to create unique patterns and designs. We will also work with novel stamping materials such as fruit and found objects to create interesting patterns and textures. This process can also be used to create beautiful personalized stationery. (1 hour class plus $5 per person for materials)

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SOAP MAKING
Learn how to make quick and easy guest-size scented soaps to use yourself or to give as gifts. We’ll also make decorative packaging for the soaps. 1 hour class plus $2 per person for one small soap. If possible, please provide a microwave, refrigerator and clean-up sink. If not, we will bring alternatives.

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WREATH MAKING
Make a beautiful wreath to decorate your wall or door using artificial flowers and greenery mounted on a pre-made wreath form. Wreaths can be themed to a season or holiday. Overhead cover recommended when displaying outdoors. (1 hour class plus $9 per person for 8-10″ wreath or $11 per person for an 18″ wreath. Optional 15″ long wreath hangers are $5 each.)

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HOLIDAY ART PROGRAMS

Visit our Holiday Activities page for fun seasonal programs such as

• Folk Art Snowman Art Project
• “Create a Snowy Day” Art Project
• Holiday Greeting Cards
• Holiday Soap Making

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Click on the categories below for a full program list

We can turn off the radio, we can walk past a museum, and we can choose not to write poetry.  But we cannot avoid architecture.  Buildings form the backdrop for almost all of our activities: we live in them, work in them, shop in them, and learn in them.  Architecture is part of the essential “food, clothing, and shelter” triad.  Our experience of the built environment begins when we are young, with memories of our childhood home.  It continues through all phases of our lives and becomes an important part of our life experience.

This symbol indicates programs that are available in-person or by video

• The Architectural History of Cleveland (1835-1931) -Step back through time from an architectural perspective and learn about the buildings that have helped to shape Cleveland’s skyline as well as its rich history. Students will learn the interesting stories behind each building, as well as why they are an important part of Cleveland history. (1 hour class) Please provide a computer, tv or projector for the slideshow. This class can also make a fun and interesting guided bus tour for groups. Please contact us to discuss this option.
• Home Adaptability (for individuals living at home) 
  An interactive slideshow. This program teaches people how their homes can be adapted to accommodate physical and mental health challenges. We will discuss specialty products and construction projects that help people live safely and comfortably in their homes – things like making the bathtub easier to get into, installing door hardware that is easier to grasp, and accommodations for wheelchairs. We will study simple, inexpensive product options for earlier stages of adaptability; all the way up to more complex projects for later stages. This class is helpful for those who wish to Age-In-Place, as well as families who have someone with physical challenges living with them. (1 hour class) Please provide a computer, tv or projector for the slideshow
• Life History Museum (for group communities) – If your building has an extra room or an extra corner in the lobby, we can create a museum display where people contribute artifacts or heirlooms from their lives, or artwork they have created.  The stories behind the display items are written out, to explain their significance.  This can be either a permanent or temporary installation; and it can be a changing display, where the items on display are varied throughout the year. (Time and cost varies, please contact us for options)

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Click on the categories below for a full program list

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laughter Yoga is a fun, “feel-good” class with lots of health benefits. It combines laughing exercises, deep breathing and playful group activities. These activities bring more oxygen to the body and the brain which reduces stress and makes one feel more energetic and healthy.

Laughter yoga has been shown to boost the immune system, promote relaxation, lift mild depression, improve social interaction and connections, exercise the abdomen, help to control blood pressure increase lung capacity, detox the body, and improve circulation and digestion. But most importantly it’s fun and feels good!

Laughter Yoga classes are one hour long for active seniors, and 45 minutes for those with more limited abilities. Laughter Yoga does not require any special skills, equipment or clothing; and can be done either seated or standing. * This is a participatory class and would not be suitable for people who cannot move their limbs, or those with moderate to severe dementia.

Watch the videos: The Benefits of Laughter Yoga

 

 

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View Our Other Classes

Click on the categories below for a full program list

    

    

Reiki is an ancient technique for relaxation and stress reduction, which also promotes physical, mental and emotional healing. It is a recognized form of natural health care that uses a healing energy flow to restore and maintain balance. Reiki helps to ease symptoms of illness and injury, increase energy, and provide clearer thought.  People of all ages benefit from Reiki, as do animals and plants.

Reiki is gentle and non-invasive. No muscle or skin manipulation is involved, so it can be tolerated by people with pain or skin sensitivities, and those who are unable to tolerate massage. Reiki is being used by many area hospitals to reduce patient stress prior to surgery, and to shorten recovery time afterward. It is also used in hospice care to comfort those with terminal illness.

All programs are available in-person or by video

All programs can also be done outdoors in nice weather or with overhead cover

• The Benefits of Reiki Energy Healing – An informational one-hour class designed to teach your group about what Reiki is and how it can help them.  Employees are also invited to attend.  This is a good “first step” for those who are not yet familiar with Reiki, and they can then decide if they would like to receive a Reiki Treatment or Reiki Attunement (see below). (1 hour class)
• Reiki Treatment – Our Reiki therapist can provide one-hour private massage sessions for individuals, or shorter sample sessions for groups. We provide a comfortable and sanitary padded massage table, or the session can also be conducted on a chair, bed or sofa. Our therapists are certified, and have extensive experience working with senior adults and people with disabilities. (1 hour session, or longer if needed)
• Reiki Attunement – We will teach the group about Reiki, and the hand positions they can use to give themselves a Reiki treatment whenever needed. We will then “attune” them to the Reiki energy, which will enable them to perform Reiki self-treatments as a complement to their current medical care. This is a two-hour group session, with a maximum of five people per session. (Note: This is an attunement for self-care, not for treating others.  Additional training is needed for treating others.)

For more information about Reiki please visit our sister organization
Loving Hands Yoga and Reiki

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Click on the categories below for a full program list