Safety - Poem by Lorena Fernandez

That gargantuan tree striving to touch the clouds

Its juicy bark and climbing limbs curl around in coiled crowds

Thick twisted branches in a dance,

Would I climb them now, if I had the chance?


I notice my lack of an adventurous stance.


I see a man walking on a tree trunk,

Both of them, the log and the man, rough, dark and dirty

Attempting their task with courage and spunk


Not such risks in my secure life...

In it I can lose my bones and muscles like Lot's wife

Fleeing from and eliminating all worlds of strife


I admire the wild turkey with its irrepressible temperament.

Fear never prevented her from expressing her resentment

In a loud and disorganize race for the face.


Nature and the stormy sky,

Highlight my monolithic shelter

Inside it I kiss no frogs,

All that touches my lips has been sanitized.

Perhaps I could do a better job.

Giving Thanks, Nov. 2008

Dear art friends, Given the Thanksgivings celebration in the USA, I decided to send an email thanking you for your feedback and your interest in my art! Below are two paintings that I had in the works, now completed. If you can think of some titles for them, I would be glad to know them. You can click on the paintings to see a bigger version. .................................. untitled 24inx36in Acrylic on Canvas ...................................... untitled too 24inx36in Acrylic on Canvas ............................... I am planning some Expressive Arts classes in the Houston and Katy communities beginning January 2009. If you want to be informed about that, reply to this email. Email me about whatever you want. I love to get your emails! Also, if you don't want to receive this newsletter, unsubscribe below so that it won't happen again. Have a wonderful day! Lorena Fernandez LF Creative Lorena B. Fernandez M.A. Is an artist and Expressive Arts facilitator. She is also the Program Director for Expressive Arts in ArtReach a 501(c)3 non-profit organization striving to provide equal access to the arts while inspiring, empowering, increasing self awareness and cultural awareness. She lives and works in Houston and Katy Texas.

New works for November 2008

Dear art friends, I hope you are well and enjoying life. Here are a few of my new paintings I wanted to share with you. .................................. Melancholy 24inx36in Acrylic on Canvas ...................................... Shraddha inspired this... 24inx36in Acrylic on Canvas ............................... un-x 24inx36in Acrylic on Canvas .................................... There are a few more new paintings and works on paper. To see the paintings visit: http://www.lfcreative.org/Painting.html And to see the prints and works on paper visit: http://www.lfcreative.org/Prints.html Please email me about whatever you want. Also, if you don't want to receive this newsletter, unsubscribe below so that it won't happen again. Have a wonderful day! Lorena Fernandez LF Creative

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Opening at Elder Street Gallery Oct. 11 2008

Dear art friends, I hope you had as much fun at last night's art opening as I did! It was wonderful to share time with you yesterday at Elder Street Gallery Women on Women show! I took a few pictures that you can see here, but I'm sure better pics will be available from other sources. New ideas regarding Expressive Arts were discussed last night, it will be great to make them come true in the near future! Let's talk more!! Why Expressive Arts? Here are two explanation from the leaders in the field: From "The Creative Connection" by Dr. Natalie Rogers PhD (1993) Expressive arts therapy uses various arts- movement, drawing, painting, sculpting, music, writing, sound, and improvisation - in a supportive setting to facilitate growth and healing. It is a process of discovering ourselves through any art form that comes from an emotional depth. It is not creating a 'pretty' picture. It is not a dance ready for the stage. It is not a poem written and rewritten to perfection. We express inner feelings by creating outer forms. Expressive art refers to using the emotional, intuitive aspects of ourselves in various media. To use the arts expressively means going into our inner realms to discover feelings and to express them through visual art, movement, sound, writing or drama. We use the arts to let go, to express and to release. Clients report that the expressive arts have helped them to go beyond their problems to envisioning themselves taking action in the world constructively. Involving oneself intensely with the creative process brings an alignment of mind and body, creating an opening to receive divine energy. Discovering one's spirituality through creativity actually happens. From "The Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy" (1999) by Dr. Stephen and Dr. Ellen Levine Wholeness and self-actualization are seen as the goals of therapeutic work: the arts are necessary precisely because of their capactity for expressing the totality of the self. No matter what the framework, we sense a common concern with human suffering and the possibilities of an artistic response. Expressive Arts are those activities in which creative expression fosters psychological, physical and spiritual wellness. Let us keep in touch! Sincerely, Lorena Fernandez LF Creative

An art opening invitation & news about Expressive Arts Therapy in Houston

Dear friends, I hope you are VERY WELL and enjoying life! Here you will find: An art opening invitation & news about Expressive Arts Therapy in Houston I want to invite you this coming Saturday October 11th from 5pm to 10pm to the opening of an art exhibition where I am participating at Elder Street Gallery, here are the details provided by the gallery: Women on Women: The Feminine Perspective on View at Elder Street Gallery Elder Street Gallery invites you to enjoy art and become familiar with the feminine perspective! The exhibit Women on Women offers an intimate view from the vintage point of sixteen Houston Women artists! Each artist submitted two works, resulting in a diverse and exciting show. Artist's include: Lynet Mc Donald, Tanna Bennett, Judith Johnson, Linda Chateautex, Lorena Fernandez, Julie Zarate, MaryAnn Lucus, Sue Donaldson, Victoria Lewelling, Dune Tencer, Stephanie Guajardo, Lindsay Peyton, Carla Bruce, Susan Goettsche, Jerri Glidden. The reception will be held on Oct 11 from 5-10 pm. Musical entertainment will be provided by guitarist/vocalist Danny Jones. An original John Alexander lithograph will also available at this event. For more information on Women on Women show at Elder Street Gallery, visit the Web site at http://www.elderstreetartist.com/ or contact Terrence Boggs at (281) 250-4889 or via e-mail at elderstreetgallery@gmail.com. Elder Street Gallery is located at 1101 Elder Street, (down Dart Street off Houston Ave.) in the Inner Corridor, near I-45 and I-10. In Expressive Arts News: Lorena Fernandez is the Program Director of Expressive Arts for ArtReach What is ArtReach? ArtReach is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides mentoring and art-related programs to a growing population of children at risk and to others in need. See their web site here: http://artreachonline.org/ The mission of ArtReach is to bring art-related programs and services to the underprivileged and the under served, including children at risk, troubled youth, children and adults with living with illnesses, recovering from drug addiction and other special needs, victims of crime, and the elderly. ArtReach wants to provide equal access to the arts while inspiring, empowering and uniting people and increasing self awareness as well as cultural awareness. Sadly, Texas is the 49th state in the USA when it comes to budget allocated to the arts. ArtReach is funded by people in the community that care about the well being of all. Why Expressive Arts? Here are two explanation from the leaders in the field: From "The Creative Connection" by Dr. Natalie Rogers PhD (1993) Expressive arts therapy uses various arts- movement, drawing, painting, sculpting, music, writing, sound, and improvisation - in a supportive setting to facilitate growth and healing. It is a process of discovering ourselves through any art form that comes from an emotional depth. It is not creating a 'pretty' picture. It is not a dance ready for the stage. It is not a poem written and rewritten to perfection. We express inner feelings by creating outer forms. Expressive art refers to using the emotional, intuitive aspects of ourselves in various media. To use the arts expressively means going into our inner realms to discover feelings and to express them through visual art, movement, sound, writing or drama. We use the arts to let go, to express and to release. Clients report that the expressive arts have helped them to go beyond their problems to envisioning themselves taking action in the world constructively. Involving oneself intensely with the creative process brings an alignment of mind and body, creating an opening to receive divine energy. Discovering one's spirituality through creativity actually happens. From "The Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy" (1999) by Dr. Stephen and Dr. Ellen Levine Wholeness and self-actualization are seen as the goals of therapeutic work: the arts are necessary precisely because of their capactity for expressing the totality of the self. No matter what the framework, we sense a common concern with human suffering and the possibilities of an artistic response. Expressive Arts are those activities in which creative expression fosters psychological, physical and spiritual wellness. I am looking forward to helping the Expressive Arts Program in ArtReach grow and I am looking forward to your ideas, feedback and any help that you can provide.I'm looking forward to seeing you at Elder Street Gallery Saturday night! It will be lots of fun!! Sincerely, Lorena Fernandez Art making experience provided by ArtReach