Holidaze at the Winona Arts Center

Holidaze at the Winona Arts Center
Art making and music--what can feel more right?  Dirk Nelson and Mary Coughlin and friends led a holiday card making with printmaking. The Winona Fiddlers played their magic to a delighted audience.

 Winona Fiddlers under the direction of Betsy Neil.  Fourth Grade to High School and young adults joined in the fun.

 Two of the youngest fiddlers

Two fiddlers and singers

 Spinning the wheel to create a print

 Dirk keeping everything straight

 Lots of great helpers

 All ages of makers

 Smiles in creating the process

Working together

Learn more about the Winona Arts Center.




 

Winona Art Walk and Tour

What a great idea to give art this holiday season

 Mary Lee showed her art at the Wesley United Methodist Church Guild Hall along with nine other artists.  It was a lovely day of looking, chatting with friends, finding gifts for young and old, and having a bit of refreshment.

 Two friends looking at Mary Singers paintings.

 Kay Shaw creating a card for an interested person.

 Will Brezezinski with his beautiful pottery

 Julia Crozier and her paintings; Mickey Maslowski wrapping some art.

Spoon maker, Philip Waletzdo making spoons during the show

 Relaxing with a bit of coffee. Mary Forney talking about her art in the background.

 Patsy King with one of her paintings

Some family of Mary Lee's stopped by to take a look, find some art they loved, and get a picture together.

Friends near and far saying,  "Hello."

Thanks to the River Arts Alliance for putting on another wonderful Winona Art Walk and Tour.

White Belt Training with Winalee Zeeb

Take a step into a deeper relationship with yourself.  Be a sensation scientist for five days.  Go to a Nia White Belt training with Winalee Zeeb.

Nine years ago, I took my first White Belt training with this amazing teacher and trainer.  Winalee teaches with truth and humor and delight.  She is clear and she shares with her whole heart.

We learned 13 Principles in the Nia White Belt.  In Principle 7, we learned about the Planes of Movement and Intensity Levels and how to vary our movement from low, middle or high and change our intensity levels for our own  personal conditioning of our body.  Our learning was not only in lecture format, but moving our body to bring the knowledge in as a somatic practice.

 At the end of the day of intensive training, we got to dance!  Using imagery and fantastic music, we would move our bodies. Winalee guided our imagination to surfing or paddling on a paddle board during one of the songs in the cool down cycle.  And everyone had their own expression of that movement for themselves.

We had friends from the Minneapolis/St Paul come to share and refresh their learning.

Mary Lee, Winalee, and Beth after class on Saturday.

I connected with a new friend, Dawn Bliss!

We danced strength.

 We ate great food to keep our energy strong. 

On the last day, we all took a carousel ride.

Kathie Geiger

Karen Magedanz

The Sista's, Katy Anthony and Jennifer Breitlow

Winalee Zeeb, Trainer and Miranda Gray-Burlingame, Owner Lark Toys

Kathy Gray, Owner Lark Toys

Jacque Paulsen,  Producer

Esther Piszczek and Jacque Paulsen

We each received a white belt, a certificate, and gifts from Winalee

When all was completed, we had graduation and threw our belts into the air in joy.  

The last day, Miranda taught a Nia class inviting Jacque and I to join her in teaching.  Some friends and Winalee from the White Belt training were able to stay and dance along with members of the community including owner, Ron Gray,  It was a magical way to close the day and the training for me.

Mary Lee & Jacque

Join us for a Nia class near you.  Go to the Nia website, click the tab that says classes or trainings to find a class or training near you. 

Autumn Walks to the River

                                 
When the sun is shining on an Autumn day, there is a feeling in my being of great joy.  We've had lots of rain and cloudy weather this year.  I'm still hoping for lots of sun into the change of the season.

 

                                                            Trees are near the YMCA  

                                Quite happy jack-o-lanterns getting ready for Halloween.

                                            Kicking leaves--a favorite autumn activity.

     A dancer filled with joy? A bird on the wing?  What do you see?

    Headphones to hear a story as I check out all the beauty around the Mississippi River.

                                         Trees showing off all their color before they let go.