The Word Wand – WEUSI Artmaking Workshop
The Word Wand
Thursday, May 8
6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
All ages (an adult must accompany children; no drop-off)
Suggested donation of $5-12, or pay what you can
Registration is required to participate: Sign up
In this workshop, participants create a word wand to inspire them to develop practices that transform negative thinking and construct healthy, supportive thoughts. This symbolic art tool has precedence in Native American and African spiritual practices. The workshop closes with a ritual and blessing incorporating the participants’ newly created word wand.
About the facilitators:
Deborah Singletary
Deborah Singletary’s artwork has appeared in the New Yorker, “ New Women “ Magazine, The New York Daily News, Painting From The Source (Harper Collins ), Making What Your Means Can’t Buy ( Vision Carriers Press ) and Art’s Buoyant Felicity: An Anthology Art/Creativity Healing (Evolutionary Girls ). She was included in the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s major show, “ Black New York Artist of The 20th Century. “
Much of Deborah’s artwork is inspired by her southern and African roots. She is sought after for her paintings, assemblages and word wands. Deborah’s recent exhibition credits include: WEUSI: Evolution of a Revolution (Akwaaba Gallery, Newark, N.J.), Black Joy and Resilience ( Calabar Gallery Harlem, N.Y. ), American HooDoo and Southern Black American-Centric Spiritual Ways ( Rush Gallery New York, N.Y. ), Her story: Voice, Vision & Memory ( LeRoy Neiman Art Center Harlem, N.Y.) and On the Matter of Water ( Kenkeleba Gallery New York, N.Y.).
Utilizing her passion and art in her work as an interfaith minister, Deborah’s work helps pierce the veil separating us from our true selves. As a painter and multimedia artist, her warm spirit and personality have inspired many to put their hidden artistic talents on display. She says, “ For me, making art is a spiritual path and being an artist is having a love story”
Jennifer Ivey
Jennifer was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens. She has experienced NYC from a very different urban setting. Her first formal introduction to the art world was attending the Brooklyn Museum Children’s Art program.
“But I attribute my gift for creating through my father’s passion for theatre and my passion for an eclectic home environment which included original oil paintings by other young artists,” she stated.
Jennifer was educated in NYC’s finest public schools and graduated from Pratt Institute with a BA in art education. At Pratt Institute, she studied with William T. Williams and as a graduate student, she studied with Anthony Tone at the New School. Jennifer has taught art in the public school system and worked as an art consultant.
Jennifer has experimented with multi-medium design. She has made puppets for theatre and feathered jewelry for entertainer Nina Simone and on-air personality Melba Toliver.
She continues to find a fascination for facial expressions of people in groups in old photographs and uses them in her artwork. She has exhibited with Black Women of Brooklyn and other environs, is a member of the Long Island Black Artist Association and Blacker Than Thou Cross Culture.
Jennifer and her husband Rod have two sons. Royal is an NBA coach and Sterling is a health care worker. Moving from Harlem, they now residue in the laid-back community of Hollis, NY, one of the breeding grounds of Hip Hop.