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Have you gotten stuck in a creative rut? Writer's block got you down? Or maybe you've always wanted to nurture your creativity but somehow it always gets pushed off your to-do list? Riverworks has an exciting summer opportunity for you! "The Artist's Way is a 12-week course that helps people unlock their capacity for creativity — whether in art, at work, or in life. At its core, it's a great practice to access more delight, curiosity, and creative inquiry within your daily life." (taken from this NPR article: https://www.npr.org/2023/09/05/1193447515/the-artists-way) Whether you have gone on the journey of the Artist's Way before, or this is your first time, you will be sure to gain new insight and inspiration at this unique stage in your life, as we are constantly evolving! Associate Artist, Christine Hubbard will be guiding this experience with weekly Zoom calls on Monday mornings and weekly in-person field trips on Wednesday to local sites to spark inspiration, connect with our ecosystems, learn local history, and dive deeper into the amazing Ag Reserve! Not all sessions are mandatory, as we know summer is a busy time for people! The book itself is self guided, so if you can't attend a session, there is still a lot you can do on your own time! The purpose of the group is to create more accountability, support to stay the course, create community, and add local inspiration. Participants will need to purchase their own copy of the book as well as any art supplies of choice. For field trips, the group will meet at Riverworks and then carpool/caravan to the field trip sites. All sites will be in or near the NW Ag Reserve. There will be an optional in-person orientation session ahead of time and students will be sent instructions/homework before the first official session so you can hit the ground running. The final field trip will double as an end celebration! Monday Sessions will meet on Zoom from 9-10am and Wednesday Sessions will be the in person field trips from 9:30-11:30am. Make this summer one of memorable growth and meaningful experiences, join this Artist's Way cohort rooted right here in the Ag Reserve. Artists, writers, photographers, and anyone who wants to explore and nurture their creativity is welcome!

Friday, June 20th, 6-8 pm Your voice is more than just a tool for communication—it is a portal to something deeper. It can be a means of meditation, prayer, healing, and profound self-expression. Unlike any other instrument, the voice is uniquely human, shaped by breath, emotion, and experience. In this workshop, we will explore the voice as both an individual and collective instrument—one that connects us to ourselves, each other, and the world around us. Through guided exercises and group singing, we will cultivate a deeper awareness of our voices and rediscover the joy of making music together. Included in the workshop: • Vocal warm-up • Mini group voice lesson • Guided breath meditation • Learning songs together in unison • Learning part songs & practicing harmony singing • Q&A About Kristen: A world-class singer, director and composer, Kristen Toedtman has performed as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Britt Festival Orchestra, Corona del Mar Festival Orchestra, Baltimore Concert Artists and Musica Angelica orchestras at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and various other venues around the country. She has inspired and led singing in homeless shelters, health clinics, City Hall and Skid Row. Kristen is dedicated to the exploration of music as a healing paradigm. With her partner Chris Pumphrey, she sings songs of healing and praise for the wonders of creation with the intention to create space for listeners to meditate, heal and explore their inner worlds. As Director of the Community Chorus of Peabody, she led the choir through the pandemic and out the other side, emerging to at last share the stage with Marin Alsop and the BSO in a new realization of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony as a part of the Global Ode to Joy project. She is a member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale and has sung in choirs on various film scores, including Wicked, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Minions and Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker. She received a Bachelors of Music from Indiana University and her Masters in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Institute. Come sing, rain or shine!

Friday November 7th, 1-4pm Join us in learning the art of macramé! In this hands-on class, you'll learn the fundamental macrame knotting techniques to create your own unique wall hanging to adorn your home. All materials will be provided, so just bring your creativity and enthusiasm. By the end of the session, you'll have mastered a range of knots and gained the confidence to embark on your own macramé projects. Come unwind, meet fellow craft enthusiasts, and discover the joy of creating something truly unique! Kypriana “Lala” Daniels is the author of the Earth Folk Tales Series, a seasonal collection of children's mushroom-foraging fairy tales. Kypriana has facilitated nature based educational and arts programs for children for 15 years. The programs focus on her passions: honey bees, mushrooms, creative writing, wool needle felting and storytelling. She wild-schools her daughter in their home in the Appalachian foothills

Storytime! Bring your children to this interactive storytime workshop. Local Author, Kypriana Daniels, will read her book Autumn Forage! about the local mushrooms, trees and plants we often find around us during this season. Afterwards children will complete an activity and learn how to work with wool to create little fall themed works of art! Kypriana “Lala” Daniels is the author of the Earth Folk Tales Series, a seasonal collection of children's mushroom-foraging fairy tales. Kypriana has facilitated nature based educational and arts programs for children for 15 years. The programs focus on her passions: honey bees, mushrooms, creative writing, wool needle felting and storytelling. She wild-schools her daughter in their home in the Appalachian foothills. The ideal age range for this class is ages 7-10!

Thursdays from 1:00-4:00PM October 23rd - November 6th Unlock your creativity and deepen your understanding of color in this engaging, hands-on painting class for adults. Through the process of creating abstract artwork on canvas, you’ll explore the foundational principles of color theory in a relaxed, inspiring setting. We’ll cover the essentials—like identifying and mixing primary and secondary colors, how to recreate specific hues, and understanding the emotional and visual impact of color combinations. You’ll experiment with blending and layering techniques to discover how color can evoke mood, create harmony, or add dynamic contrast to your work. Whether you're new to painting or looking to refresh your skills, this class offers a low-pressure space to play with color and form. With guided instruction and plenty of room for personal expression, you'll leave with a completed abstract painting—and a deeper appreciation for the art of color. No experience necessary. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to experiment! About Dianne: Dianne Bugash was born into a family of artists. Her mother, a graduate of The Corcoran School of Art, was chosen to represent that school at the opening of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C and always kept materials on hand for her girls to “play with”. Her father, a builder and sculptor, taught her to use tools. “I grew up with a passion for living a creative life”, she says. It’s driven her to maintain a vibrant studio and pass on the joy of creativity by teaching painting and drawing, not only to art school students, but also to adults who wish to be creative. An unexpected outcome of her years teaching has been the invigorating and stimulating discussions that carry over and support the ideas embedded in her own work. Dianne’s interest in demystifying the art world for the public has guided her to teach and lecture as opportunities arose. She has served on the faculty of the Corcoran College of Art and Design and the Maryland College of Art and Design. She’s also designed and presented workshops: "Doodling Towards Art" for non-artists at the Washington Project for the Arts. As her desire to open the doors of creativity to the public strengthened, she was accepted to the Golden Acrylic Working Artist Program where she gave lectures and workshops on how to use acrylic paints and mediums, color theory, and the origins of pigments and their inherent qualities.

Friday October 3rd, 1-4pm Join clinical herbalist Serda Ozbenian for a gentle, creative journey into the plant realm through collage. We’ll begin by creating soft backgrounds using plant-based tea washes, then layer pressed plant materials to build intuitive, textured works of art. Paints, pens, and markers will be available for those who wish to add drawn elements to their piece. This process invites intuitive expression, storytelling, and a deeper connection with the plants we often pass by. All materials are provided, and you’re welcome to bring your own pressed plant material. Come slow down, make beauty, and let the wild guide your hands. Serda Ozbenian is a clinical herbalist, medicine maker, experienced forager, and wild food enthusiast. She’s passionate about helping others reconnect with the plant world in ways that are both accessible and deeply meaningful. Serda also teaches seasonal classes on herbal medicine, plant connection, and creative earth-based practices. Learn more at www.collaborativeherbalhealing.com.

Saturdays 9:30 - 10:15 am January 11th - June 7th, 2025 Join any time with a prorated class fee! Class fee is collected with a deposit at registration and payment for remaining sessions halfway through the semester, via invoice. This class has it all! Students learn to count rhythm, explore percussion and other cool instruments, and create art while listening and learning about classical composers. Class is limited to six participants. Please email Yunique Music School Director, Michelle Palmer at Michelle@riverworksart.org with any questions.

Saturdays 10:15 - 11:00 am January 11th - June 7th, 2025 Join any time with a prorated class fee! Class fee is collected with a deposit at registration and payment for remaining sessions halfway through the semester, via invoice. Explore playing a wide variety of wind instruments, such as saxophone, didgeridoo, harmonica and ocarina! Listen to, and learn about classical composers, practice counting rhythm, and create some awesome art along the way! Please email Yunique Music School Director, Michelle Palmer at Michelle@riverworksart.org with any questions.

Thursdays 6:00 - 7:15 pm January 9th - June 5th, 2025 Join any time with prorated fees! Class fee is collected with a deposit at registration and payment for remaining sessions halfway through the semester, via invoice. These exciting instrumental lessons encourage budding musicians to learn to perform and work and play their instruments as a group. Learn not only music theory and technique but also build teamwork skills by rehearsing and performing with their peers, guided by Yunique Music School Director, Michelle Palmer. The Youth Band will have multiple performance opportunities. Email Yunique Music School Director, Michelle Palmer at michelle@riverworksart.org to take an evaluation lesson to see if your child’s experience level is appropriate for this band.

The Studios at Alden Farms are open for your use on from 10 am - 2 pm on Tuesdays and 10 am - 1 pm on Sundays. The studio at Alden Farms is a resource for the community. Come to open studios for access to studio space in the front and back studio rooms, with large tables, art supplies, large utility sink, and library. Funds from open studio fees will go into improving the quantity, quality, and variety of art supplies and materials available for use! The studio is already equipped with all kinds of brushes, pastels, charcoal, acrylic paints, small canvases, inks, and more. These open studio sessions will be hosted by a Riverworks' staff member or associate artist, who will be there as a resource, for their perspective and expertise. You can also check out books from the studio library with this studio attendant. The library contains a variety of art guide books, beautiful color plate art books, and in-depth art history books to explore. Please respect the studio space and work with us to make it a clean, organized, and positive space!

Wednesdays from 1:00-3:30 PM* May 21st - June 25th (6 sessions) Students learn about materials, painting techniques, composition, and color. High school age and older are all welcome! This is a relaxed class which promotes asking questions and getting personal instruction. The student may bring a subject, photo, idea that they would like to paint, and we will also have a still life available. There will be instructions on basic composition, color use, and color mixing. Students will learn how to start and finish a painting by using these concepts. Individual instruction can be given depending on your experience level. We will provide materials for the first class. Bring any current materials you have to the first class, and we can look at them to see if they can be used in class, such as paint, mixed media paper, canvases, brushes etc. Email cynthiajennings4@gmail.com with any questions.

Riverworks Summer Arts Week: Session 1 July 7th-11th, 9am-12pm (longer last session) Ages 7-11 Our youth instructors are collaborating to create a multidisciplinary artistic exploration to celebrate the natural world, taking advantage of the beautiful grounds and sculpture garden around the Alden Farms Studio. Get ready for art, theater, music and movement with our youth instructors! This program will be lead by music teacher Michelle Palmer, visual arts teacher Talia Rizzo and theatre teacher Jennifer Ridgway, each bringing their expertise to the table, with help from Riverworks staff and counselor Charlie Gleason. These sessions will run 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., culminating in a longer final session, time to use the pool at Alden Farms, a potluck, and the opportunity for campers to share their work with parents and family.