Notes on “Revivance” 05/03/2020
On Sunday, May 3rd, the Rising Arts Leaders of San Diego’s Programming Committee hosted an online event called Revivance. The idea behind Revivance was to offer a workshop of “fun and restorative practices that draw upon multiple art disciplines to help reduce stress, rebalance, and recover inspiration while juggling the demands of life at home.” Camille McPherson and Elizabeth Tobias (RALSD’s Programming Committee) lead exercises with the group via Zoom. The first fifteen minutes was spent on introductions, with questions ranging from what attendees’ relationship with the arts is to how the group was feeling that day. There were a range of answers, from hobbyists to arts professionals, and from happy to tired emotions.
Moving forward, Camille, a professional ballet dancer and teacher, led the group through standing stretches, placing emphasis on feeling one’s body and releasing tension. After that, attendees were asked to return to their “spots” (behind the cameras, of course, and in safe spaces at home) so that Elizabeth, an expressive arts therapist, and multidisciplinary artist, could prompt the group with an art experience: a scavenger hunt where attendees were instructed to grab an item that was meaningful to them and draw it in any style with no judgment.
The second activity was a writing prompt: to write from the meaningful object’s point-of-view. After this, attendees shared what item they had selected, how they had chosen to draw it, and what they had chosen to write about it. This exercise created a cathartic experience that provided a space where RAL members could trust one another and express their emotions.
Revivance was able to restore attendees’ strength as individuals through the meaningful sharing of the event’s activities, and the event helped to revive and nurture creative spirits together while physically apart.
