Touch Drawing Opens the Artist to New Places

ORA artists and guests gathered this afternoon to explore Touch Drawing. Led by artist Shemaya Blauer, we used brayers to spread ink on boards, layered on tissue paper, closed our eyes and drew. Shapes formed beneath finger tips, palms and even elbows. Evocative patterns emerged while blocked channels opened.

This was a special opportunity to explore what was hidden beneath the surface and a new process was explored! Fun? ... yes! Inspiring? .... definitely! Messy? Absolutely!

Thank you Shemaya for a great session....and our gratitude as well to Neveh Shalom for providing us with a marvelous space to do our soul work.

ORA and Jewish Arts Month

This is a picture of Shemaya Blauer at our Celebration of Art 2010 sale. She will demonstrate her technique of Touch Drawing on March 15th at the MJCC (6-8 pm). Come check it out!

Not only will ORA be at the March Art Spark (see the previous entry), but we will also have a show in the MJCC Lobby during the entire month of March!

If you've never been to the MJCC (Mittleman Jewish Community Center), this is a great opportunity to come check out this superb facility.

First of all, you'll discover some great art (the shows will rotate weekly). Every Sunday a new show will go up! Second, you can ask for a tour and check out the amazing athletic facilities.

Checkout the you tube video made by our friend Lauren Botney..... a little preview of Jewish Arts Month (JAM)! Just click on the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LMFuLRxUWo

MJCC 6651 SW CAPITOL HWY......503.244.0111
Come visit the living room of Portland's Jewish Community!
.

Shemaya Blauer: Touch Drawing

ORA NW Jewish Artists welcome Shemaya Blauer:
Shemaya has used the expressive arts for healing and personal growth since the 1980s. In 1990, she first learned Touch Drawing and felt able to express herself completely for the first time in her life. Touch Drawing has become her passion, primarily because of its accessibility and unlimited applications. She has used it in her social work practice in many contexts, including with people and their families facing life threatening illnesses, as well as to inspire creativity and self discovery, to express feelings when there are no words, and for simple connection and relaxation.

To schedule workshops or individual sessions, or for more information please contact her at shemaya_toyou@yahoo.com or 503-816-6349. You can also view more of her art at http://touchdrawing.ning.com/profile/2thrive.

Description: Touch drawing provides a doorway to creativity where each drawing
becomes a stepping stone towards self-discovery, and takes one deeper into the
nonverbal realm. It allows places deep inside of us to express and release their authentic voice, while also offering creative play, relaxation, and gentle emotional release. As simple as finger painting, hands become the paintbrush and images pour through your fingers. This process has been used with people who believe they are not creative, as well as with artists of all ages and all physical and cognitive abilities. Paper is placed over an inked surface and hands are the tools making the images. Uncensored, organic forms emerge from inner sensations, and each drawing captures the present moment, becoming a stepping stone to the next.

Visit Shemaya at her booth on October 24th 10am-4pm

at the MJCC 6651 SW Capitol Hwy.