Past Workshops & Trainings
Dancing with the Dark at The Arcata Playhouse
As the Solstice invites us into stillness and shadow, Dancing with the Dark offers a space to explore creativity through movement, expression, and reflection. This powerful work combines personal learning with community creativity and sharing, allowing for balance to be found in the longest night of the year. Wear cozy clothes that allow for movement. If you like, bring a blanket or pillow to sit on or cozy up with. Art supplies will be provided.
Two Feathers Native American Family Services Training
-Expressive Arts & Body Wisdom
A therapeutic approach to using the natural human desire to create, or the creative process as a way to foster mental wellness and emotional growth.
American Indian Educational Film Series at Dell’Arte International
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Dell’Arte International hosted a series of films and documentaries. Each matinee was followed by a facilitated discussion by Samantha Williams-Gray.
All films are made by Indigenous artists and discussions explored the concepts and issues represented in the films.
Films shown and discussed were; Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World;,Reel Injun, and Smoke Signals.
Artwork created by workshop participant, R.
Empowering the Imagination at Pelican Bay State Prison
Samantha Williams-Gray designed a weekend workshop for men experiencing incarceration at Pelican Bay. A California supermax prison that houses about 2,300 inmates with a history of violent offenses. She created a score using the five-part process where participants were asked to identify and confront the blocks that stand in the way of their imaginations. Her intent was to explore and release these blocks to their creativity and guide the participants in supporting their positive mindsets and to foster artful living within the prison.
Exploring Expressive Arts in Honor of the Menopause Journey
- Zero to Fierce Women’s Festival at The Arcata Playhouse
Samantha Williams-Gray facilitated a free workshop exploring the seldom discussed journey of menopause. This workshop examined themes of; life transitions, women in community together, and creating personal ceremonies as self care. It used movement, expressive drawing and journaling as tools to support perimenopausal women and their personally unique experiences of transition. Post menopausal women were honored for the wisdom of their own transition experiences, as they helped other women navigate the journey.