This recording is taken from our Facebook, and Instagram Lives! 

Art & Wellness Retreats: https://killarney.com/resort/events/art-and-nature-retreat/

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Can you change a memory?

Join us as we get creative about the Most Memorable Moments in life, assign them a colour and begin to reframe any negative memories that arise with paint and canvas.

Did you know that enhanced suggestibility refers to the way memory changes just a little bit each time we think about it?

Can you trust the memories you had at ages 3, 4, 5? What about 13, 15 or 20?

Reframing is the general change in a person's mindset, whether positive or negative. By using a process guided by questioning, the goal is to reduce anxiety.

Reframing is otherwise known as replacing cognitive distortions with rational thoughts.

Sometimes recalling a bad memory in the third-person perspective can help us understand it better and help the brain process them more positively.

Feel free to follow along; all you need is a rainbow of Colours, a canvas, your memories and a scraper (ruler, cardboard, paint knife, paint scraper).

Welcome to the podcast A Living Library, where we have creative conversations. It's a journey involving discussions to process resiliency, an exchange of discovery and healing, and talks among friends to open ears and eyes.  I am your Host Rhiannon Barry, a visual artist, story-teller, community-minded volunteer, creative wellness retreat coordinator. I have a diploma in community service work, studied journalism- communications, and am currently taking professional development courses in psychology counselling and art therapy. Join me and my special co-hosts and guests as we share stories and exchanges energy in mutual respect with individuals from all walks of life.  

Website: https://bewhimsiartloft.ca/creative-conversations 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/403290106358914

 https://www.facebook.com/livinglibraryandresilency 

https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonbarryart/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/cr8tive_convo_podcast/?hl=en

Be A Guest Email: [email protected]  

My guest today is Tom Grantis. Tom says it comes down to the 10,000-hour rule and attributes his artistic growth to having a ton of free time to practice drawing during the Covid-19 social restrictions. He had been a school teacher and coach who lived a typical life.

The term retirement had meant something different to Tom than it had meant to many in the generation before him. No, he did not long for long days filled with relaxation, crossword puzzles and planting marigolds.  Instead, he sought new interesting hobbies like novel and screenplay writing and taking art classes. 

Tom began drawing from a creative pool buried under years of hockey bags and grading matrixes. A sketch class in Port Colborne brought out a gift that Tom could never have imagined would end up filling his leisure years. With a particular interest in the life of art masters and a keen eagerness to gain knowledge of art history, this Creative is diving deeper into his new hobby.  He is excited to explore unique ideas for wildlife portraits too.

Now Tom creates detailed and moving images of people and pets. His piece titled  ‘Resolve’  is currently showing in the St. Catharines City Hall art exhibit. His transition from athlete and teacher to Artist has been swift and successful. He is now venturing into commission work and new opportunities to exhibit. Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TGrantisSketches

Shoutout to our Sound Polisher Gabrielle Bond darkspeed/bandcamp.com and our Drummer Carly @eaarthwalker Dalton.

Welcome to the podcast A Living Library, where we have creative conversations. It's a journey involving discussions to process resiliency, an exchange of discovery and healing, and talks among friends to open ears and eyes.  I am your Host Rhiannon Barry, a visual artist, social worker, community-minded wellness program developer, and wellness retreat coordinator. I have a diploma in community service work, studied journalism- communications, and am currently taking professional development courses in psychology counselling and art therapy. Join me and my special co-hosts and guests as we share stories and exchanges energy in mutual respect with individuals from all walks of life.  Website: https://bewhimsiartloft.ca/creative-conversations https://www.facebook.com/groups/403290106358914 https://www.facebook.com/livinglibraryandresilency https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonbarryart/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/cr8tive_convo_podcast/?hl=en Email: [email protected]  My guest today is Michelle Robinson, animator and visual artist.  https://www.michellerobinson.org/ When Michelle was a young art student taking architecture as an undergrad, it was experiencing the beautifully animated ballroom sequence in Disney's Beauty and the Beast that acted as a guide into her long-time career of animating movies. Fantastic timing and dedication to a goal helped her land her dream job working as a character artist! With over 28 years at the company, she is in a managerial role overseeing and mentoring the teams creating animated movies. Coinciding, Michelle produces her own work as an independent artist. Her recent exhibition was titled you Are Not Here. Her digitally enhanced photographic art is both veiled and revealing. It contains traces and whispers of secrets you may never truly unearth. But these confidences have been revealed to Michelle. She has carefully navigated the threshold between art expression and gatekeeper, exploring the notion of the off-kilter space one experiences when life perspectives suddenly shift when family secrets are revealed. Captured in the art pieces are an intrusive shuffling of the deck, a broken identity, a comprehension of uncomfortable haplessness, and a realization that reality has been set anew.  http://www.keystoneartspace.com/calendar/2021/10/16/you-are-not-here Shoutout to our Sound Polisher Gabrielle Bond darkspeed/bandcamp.com and our Drummer Carly @eaarthwalker Dalton.

Welcome to the podcast A Living Library, where we have creative conversations. It's a journey involving discussions to process resiliency, an exchange of discovery and healing, and talks among friends to open ears and eyes.

I am your Host Rhiannon Barry, a visual artist, social worker, community-minded wellness program developer, and wellness retreat coordinator. I have a diploma in community service work, studied journalism- communications, and am currently taking professional development courses in psychology counselling and art therapy. Join me and my special co-hosts and guests as we share stories and exchanges energy in mutual respect with individuals from all walks of life.

Website: https://bewhimsiartloft.ca/creative-conversations

https://www.facebook.com/groups/403290106358914

https://www.facebook.com/livinglibraryandresilency

https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonbarryart/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/cr8tive_convo_podcast/?hl=en

Email: [email protected]

My guest today is Michelle Robinson, animator and visual artist.

https://www.michellerobinson.org/

When Michelle was a young art student taking architecture as an undergrad, it was experiencing the beautifully animated ballroom sequence in Disney's Beauty and the Beast that acted as a guide into her long-time career of animating movies. Fantastic timing and dedication to a goal helped her land her dream job working as a character artist! With over 28 years at the company, she is in a managerial role overseeing and mentoring the teams creating animated movies. Coinciding, Michelle produces her own work as an independent artist. Her recent exhibition was titled you Are Not Here. Her digitally enhanced photographic art is both veiled and revealing. It contains traces and whispers of secrets you may never truly unearth. But these confidences have been revealed to Michelle. She has carefully navigated the threshold between art expression and gatekeeper, exploring the notion of the off-kilter space one experiences when life perspectives suddenly shift when family secrets are revealed. Captured in the art pieces are an intrusive shuffling of the deck, a broken identity, a comprehension of uncomfortable haplessness, and a realization that reality has been set anew.

http://www.keystoneartspace.com/calendar/2021/10/16/you-are-not-here

Shoutout to our Sound Polisher Gabrielle Bond @DarkSpeed Alchemy and our Drummer Carly @eaarthwalker Dalton.

Welcome to the podcast A Living Library, where we have creative conversations. It's a journey involving discussions to process resiliency, an exchange of discovery and healing, and talks among friends to open ears and eyes.   Today’s episode is part of the Creative Wellness Haven Series. Welcome To A Creative Wellness Haven, a collaborative approach to bring you Quality Creative Wellness Opportunities. We utilize the healing qualities of art expression, nature immersion and self-care planning to create a safe and welcoming environment to rest and rejuvenate. https://bewhimsiartloft.ca/creative-wellness/ Episode 11 is all about Mediation Labyrinths. I am your Host Rhiannon Barry, a visual artist, social worker, community-minded wellness program developer, life-long student and wellness retreat coordinator. I have a diploma in community service work, studied journalism-communications, and am currently pursuing art therapy certification.

 Join me and my special co-hosts and guests as we share stories and exchanges energy in mutual respect with individuals from all walks of life.  Website: https://bewhimsiartloft.ca/creative-conversations https://www.facebook.com/groups/403290106358914 https://www.facebook.com/livinglibraryandresilency https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonbarryart/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/cr8tive_convo_podcast/?hl=en Email: [email protected]   

With Guests: Visual Artist Adele Campbell https://www.hadelecampbell.com/ and  Writer Kimberley Rivando- Robb https://www.retroscripts.ca/w.hadelecampbell.com/ 

Music:@Eaarthwalker

Welcome to the podcast A Living Library, where we have creative conversations. It's a journey involving discussions to process resiliency, an exchange of discovery and healing, and talks among friends to open ears and eyes.  Today we discuss the concept creation and development for the Creative Wellness Hanen and take a look at the popular ideas of 'I'm an Empath', 'Toxic Positivity', and the 'Be Kind' Movement in self-care and lifestyle.   • Attend one of a Creative Wellness Day Retreat https://bewhimsiartloft.ca/art-and-we...Register October 24th Adult Day Retreat 10 spots Register October 17th Teens Day Retreat 10 spots Location: St.Catharines, ON, CA We have partnered with the City of St. Catharines Leisure department to offer Fall Art and Wellness Day Retreats at the Port Weller Community Centre. From (9:30) 10:30 am to 4 pm – A full day of wellness activities, nature immersion, and creative self-care planning with optional opening meditation at 9:30.

We facilitate both the creative process and the discussions afterwards, and everything we do is based on art therapy principles. Treat yourself or a loved one to some much-needed time away from the stresses of life & work responsibilities. We are excited to welcome you to A Creative Wellness Haven Retreat, combining the healing qualities of nature, art, and intention. Enjoy relaxing at one of the delightfully welcoming venues while being guided through various creative-intuitive activities lead by experienced art instructors and wellness professionals. Confidentiality protocols are always in effect for staff and participants. We discourage the use of identifying images being posted online. Cell phones and other photo capture devices are used with discretion. Leave feeling refreshed, with higher energy! With others or when self-guided painting allows one to focus on the moment and provides an opportunity to enjoy the present. It will enable the everyday stresses to subside and, in the end, there is something unique to look at or share with others. Sharing our Art with others provides a sense of belonging and builds confidence.

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https://linktr.ee/BeWhimsiArtLoft

Welcome to the podcast A Living Library, where we have creative conversations. It's a journey involving discussions to process resiliency, an exchange of discovery and healing, and talks among friends to open ears and eyes.

• Attend one of a Creative Wellness Day Retreat https://bewhimsiartloft.ca/art-and-wellness-retreats/

I am your Host Rhiannon Barry, a visual artist, social worker, community-minded wellness program developer, psychology student and wellness retreat coordinator. I have a diploma in community service work, studied journalism- communications, and am currently pursuing psychotherapy and art therapy certification. Join me and my special co-hosts and guests as we share stories and exchanges energy in mutual respect with individuals from all walks of life. 

Website: https://bewhimsiartloft.ca/creative-conversations

https://www.facebook.com/groups/403290106358914

https://www.facebook.com/livinglibraryandresilency

https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonbarryart/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/cr8tive_convo_podcast/?hl=en

Email: [email protected]

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Co-Host Steve Wilson is an Artist, Teacher, Juror and Gallery owner of “Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery” located 4452 Queen St. Niagara Falls, Ontario in the downtown arts and cultural area, an elected member of the Ontario Society of Artists and served on the board from 2018-2019, an elected member and previously Director of Exhibitions for the Society of Canadian Artists and an elected member of the Colour and Form Society. He was on the board of Directors at Beaux-Arts Brampton from 2003-2007 serving as President for the last 2 years, and previously Vice-President of the Mississauga Arts Society.   Read more about him on his WEBSITE

Guest: Just when you thought Kristine Schomaker does it all, she’s found another project to curate that will blow your socks off!  Kristine is a plus-size career Artist with her own coaching business. She supports artists with their business planning, PR, social media and more. Her team has also developed a free peer mentorship program and workshops that encourage artists to reach their greatest potentials. Ironically, even with all this success and a trail of awesome art exhibited, sales and accomplishments, this influential artist continues to strive towards reaching her full potential, something she feels will continue to stay just out of reach. Kristen lives with an eating disorder and is inspired by this challenge to create art. Whether it’s through a performance art exhibit with several artistic takes on her in the nude, an intriguing ideal-self avatar comic, or an installation made of hundreds of frozen yogurt spoons, she proves that it’s in the perplexities and complications of internal dialogue and social standards where art expression fits into a precious pocket of individual perception. https://shoeboxarts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/KristineSchomakerArtist

Welcome to the podcast A Living Library, where we have creative conversations. It's a journey involving discussions to process resiliency, an exchange of discovery and healing, and talks among friends to open ears and eyes.  

• Attend one of a Creative Wellness Day Retreat https://bewhimsiartloft.ca/art-and-wellness-retreats/

• Sign up for the Creative Conversations Pen Pals Project. https://bewhimsiartloft.ca/creative-conversations/

I am your Host Rhiannon Barry, a visual artist, social worker, community-minded wellness program developer, psychology student and wellness retreat coordinator. I have a diploma in community service work, studied journalism- communications, and am currently pursuing psychotherapy and art therapy certification. Join me and my special co-hosts and guests as we share stories and exchanges energy in mutual respect with individuals from all walks of life. Website: www.BeWhimsiartloft.ca  Facebook: ArtBy Rhiannon Barry Instagram: RhiannonBarryArt Email: [email protected]   

Listeners are in for a treat as Cat dispels some of the myths and provides her take on modern-day witchcraft. Our story begins with the earliest witches, who used magic spells and communication with spirits to help set intentions for change.  Many were like Cat, simply natural healers who chose a profession that was and is often misunderstood. 

No, you won't catch her riding a broomstick in the night sky, but you will find her offering friendly and helpful guidance in her quaint downtown shop, Cat & Monkey Events on Queen St. in Niagara Falls, Canada.  

Learn how her resilience saw her through the pandemic-related event & retail shutdowns that affected her business. Enjoy her inspiring approach to going with the flow and finding the positive in it all. This crafty event planner and modern-day spellcaster shares her impressive list of upcoming events in October, including an epic dance party, the Witches Ball.  

Contact: (905) 351-7312   Visit: https://downtownniagarafalls.com/explore/cat-and-monkey-events/

Welcome to the podcast A Living Library, where we have creative conversations. It's a journey involving discussions to process resiliency an exchange of discovery and healing, and talks among friends to open ears and eyes. Please reach out to me if you'd like to be a guest.

I am your Host Rhiannon Barry, a visual artist, social worker, community-minded wellness program developer, psychology student and wellness retreat coordinator. I have a diploma in community service work, studied journalism- communications, and am currently pursuing psychotherapy and art therapy certification. Join me and my special co-hosts and guests as we share stories and exchanges energy in mutual respect with individuals from all walks of life.

Website: www.BeWhimsiartloft.ca https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonbarryart/?hl=en  https://www.facebook.com/groups/403290106358914/  Email: [email protected]

Today, my Co-host is a long-time friend and former colleague, Melenie Neamtz. Melenie grew up in Niagara with a single mom- in hindsight; she was living in poverty- moving a lot. Still, she was an only child and had the fortune of spending all school breaks with her grandmother in Dorset, Ontario.  She went to Barry for school and settled there for several years before a 1-year adventure to Japan. She started working in the non-profit world and realized that helping others was something she loved to do. These past 18 months have been challenged like no other. She lost her mother to cancer in September 2020- and is still struggling with the grief daily.  Like many other parents, she has been trying to balance being a parent and teacher while still working and maintaining other areas of my life. Here two children know it's okay to cry and be sad- the trick is to take the time and give yourself permission to let it out.

Kimberley is an influential feminine force. She supports women from all over the world with her writing and wellness business called Retroscripts. https://m.facebook.com/retroscripts/ As a young black girl, Kimberley was the target of a racist school bully who inflicted demeaning verbal and demoralizing physical abuse. Home wasn't precisely a war-free zone either. With a bully at school and one at home, she didn't know where to turn for help. She reached out to an adult at school. It resulted in increased guilt, shame, and a fear of authority.

Join our heartfelt conversation where she recalls her experience growing up in the town's only family of colour. Having been confronted by Police in fourth grade for a crime, she didn't commit, hear the stories that still make her shake thinking about them. As she matured into a young woman and a deep thinker, she was often told she looked angry and bitchy.  In response, she pretended to these judgmental people and wore a more approachable mask. It took years for her to shake the harsh experiences of youth and early adulthood and to develop a love for the skin she was in and the person she continues to be. This badass, strong and independent woman, despite being set up by life to fail at many turns, saw her way through Journalism school to become a talented creative writer, editor, wife, mother to a toddler and businesswoman. https://www.instagram.com/retroscripts/?hl=en https://www.retroscripts.ca/

Ted Marotta is the drummer in ‘Doctor Lo et Le Band’ https://open.spotify.com/album/25CVNxEg6nCKWaoTyQhcJ3?si=H44qBvaRSeSxCI7xfwCx9A&dl_branch=1 since June 18 and they are already actively touring! Also a music engineer, a podcaster https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-little-bit-famous-with-ted-marotta/id1569231145 , and a father, he is a New York native and a travelling musician at heart. He began his passion project, a podcast titled ‘A Little Bit Famous,’ in June 2021. He has had some incredible guests, including Grammy award winners. Ted began drum lessons at 8-years-old and developed his creative career dreams then. Still, the combination of a fascination with history and some social career conditioning had him choosing college instead. He continued to play in a garage band, though, exercising his creative muscles.

In time, he left college and embraced band life full-time. His five-piece band ‘Ominous Seapods’ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-ominous-seapods-mn0000888844/biography toured nationally for a decade. In their heyday, they were playing upwards of 300 shows a year and had developed a diehard following. With the band members reaching their early 30s, the band dissembled, and Ted returned to his love of learning about history. After he achieved his goal of becoming a Historian with a Ph.D. in American History, Ted became a professor. Over the years, he found that students were not giving the same engagement and energy that had once fed his appetite for teaching.

Coinciding, his marriage was faltering. The marriage ended, and grief of not being around his children all the time set in. He began drinking and also fell in love with a co-worker who was a heavy drinker. Soon he hit a figurative brick wall. Single, he found sobriety with the assistance of a four-month rehab program. A few weeks after he returned, his daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He believes there were cosmic forces at work that connect the timing of his sobriety with the diagnosis. He now has copious amounts of hope, is thankful for his coping skills, and lives with gratitude daily.

Host: RhiannonBarry https://www.facebook.com/groups/403290106358914/  https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonbarryart/?hl=en is a self-taught visual artist born in St. Catharines, Ontario. She spent a large majority of her childhood and teen years on the North Shore of Lake Superior. recently, she showed in the City of St. Catharine’s annual juried art exhibit. In solidarity with indigenous cultures, she created a piece featuring hope for the future. You can currently find a collection of her pieces hanging in The Hub Art Gallery on Queen Street in Niagara Falls, ON.  She is currently pursuing a BA in Psychology counselling and art therapy. She focuses on providing calming and conscious retreat and activity experiences and shares online painting and creating art therapies.  Rhiannon is the coordinator of the popular online program 'Creative Conversations Pen Pals Project, 'Gentle Painting' and 'Artists' Path Finder Series' and is running in-person day and week art and wellness retreats. www.bewhimsiartloft.ca 

Special Guest Co-host: Adele Campbell is a micro-realist painter currently creating a butterfly wing series. She offers wellbeing support and is a program writer and co-coordinator of the art and wellness retreats with Rhiannon.https://www.hadelecampbell.com/

Musician: The intro music to this podcast was played on the Rav vast drum by Carly Dalton. Check out her art and music on her work on Instagram; at eaarthwalker or on her Etsy shop page at Earthwalker Cards. Thanks for listening!