Our Approach
For us, arts are languages. They are the languages of the inner self seeking expression. Here, external criticism is irrelevant. Here, external appreciation is irrelevant. Here, saleability is irrelevant.
Of course, languages are created as beings seek to understand one another. If others are able to interact with your art, so much the better–but the primary purpose of the creativity seeking expression is communication from the self to the self.
The purpose of The Little Fernwood School of the Arts is to lure the inner creative spirit out of its hiding.
The inner creative creature is furtive, it is shy, and it disappears out of sight sometimes for years at a time. It is reclusive, sensitive and delicate–in retreat from judgement: positive or negative. It is under attack from societal expectations and the onslaught of materialism; with it’s complement of imagery designed to put the individual off balance–to force it to begin seeking external approval or endlessly striving to avoid negative judgement.
The Little Fernwood School of the Arts strives to create a space that will pay close attention to how we communicate with ourselves and with others.
There are many schools that will teach you techniques and tools. Our facilitators will also share their knowledge and expertise with you–however, the end goal is never to accumulate a “toolbox”–it is to release the creative energy that is latent within. The tools and techniques are in service to this cause.
Since our society and culture are so full of it, we cannot promise that we will be able to build an absolutely emotionally safe environment–that there will never be judgement or even positive evaluation–but we will strive to be aware of it. This will construct a space where participants will be able to safely practice the skills to maintain their inner equilibrium in the face of external approval or criticism that they will learn here. After practicing here, the students will be able to take their skills everywhere they go. This will give them the ability to clearly communicate their inner message and maintain their axis. This will help to keep their inner spirits communicating, happy, and well fed for a lifetime.
The Little Fernwood School of the Arts is primarily devoted to developing a creative space where youth and adults can practice an approach to art that honours their insights, thoughts, ideas and experiences.
Through the practice of experiential arts, such as woodwork, creative writing, and drama, the students will learn to overcome the thinking and self-communication that often frustrates the creative process.
In addition, we believe that one of the main challenges to our individual creativity lies in the collective fallacy that it is better to consume culture than to become a co-creator of culture by making our own artifacts. So, one aspect of the school will be to nurture a community which challenges us and supports us as we develop the resiliency necessary to take creative risks and to acknowledge others as they take those risks. Accessibility is important to us, so we do offer a sliding scale.
For this reason, the Little Fernwood School of the Arts will have a secondary focus of providing workshops and seminars which will be open to parents and other community members as well. If you hit the “contact us” button, you will reach Tamara Hernandez (the Little Fernwood School of the Arts is a Hernande’z Family venture!)
Get more of the story at www.littlefernwoodschoolofthearts.com