THE SOUNDTRACK TO YOUR DAY: WHAT YOUR BRAIN KEEPS FROM YOU
Stop reading for a moment and listen…
What can you hear? Maybe nothing at first, but tune into your surroundings and suddenly it’s pretty noisy. Far away – the rumble of a distant highway, or an aircraft overhead. A little closer – Birds in the trees, a lawnmower, kids playing, people talking outside, cars passing, rain on the windows. Closer still – a tv or music playing in another room, and any number things humming, beeping, and clicking in the house. Not to mention the person beside you asking why you are suddenly staring into space.
Despite this constant array of sound around us, we rarely notice it. Our brain is looking after us – stopping us from being distracted so we can get on with our day. A scientist might say a brain circuit, controlled by the prefrontal cortex, filters out unwanted background noise by suppressing incoming sensory inputs. A non-scientist might say our ears switch off so we can concentrate better on whatever we’re doing. The same thing happens when we go to bed; as our brain filters out the sounds around us so we can sleep. If there’s suddenly a new or different sound, our brain kicks us into action in case it means danger; otherwise it leaves us alone, in apparent silence.
But what if we decide to reject the brain’s advice? If we deliberately ignore our prefrontal cortex and actively tune into all those sounds we are being made to ignore, we now have an open connection to a curious part of our daily lives that’s largely unnoticed and unexplored.
And this uncharted realm can be a fascinating place. It’s our personal musique concrete – a unique and never-ending soundtrack to our day – a little different each time we listen but always familiar. And after a while we realize it has its own pace and rhythms, slowly changing across a day, or week, or season. Whether you see it as a fun break or a brief meditation, tuning into your soundtrack is a way to take a pause – to connect with yourself and your surroundings a little more – and can be an enjoyable and relaxing time-out from a busy day.
SEPTEMBER SNEAK PEAK
Figure Painting & Drawing with Sarah Holl
Admission
25.00
Summary
Thursday, September 17
from 6:30-8:30 pm
Description
In this class, students can practice their drawing or painting skills while working from a live model.
Students will be encouraged to find their own voices and explore various mediums. Students will receive individual instruction as well as group critiques. Open to all levels of experience. This class meets in the Owl Hall on the main level of the Education Wing.
MATERIALS
If you are a beginner to drawing from the figure here are some suggested supplies: 1 18″x24″ Newsprint pad ( for the warm up or gesture drawings, these are quick sketches and you may not want to use up your good paper) 1 18″x24″ drawing pad (nicer paper for long poses) Soft charcoal (my favorite is the alpha-color Char-kole 12 pack make sure you get the compressed charcoal not the pastel) An ebony pencil and an eraser (just a regular eraser like you had in school)
For more advanced students: All students are welcome and encouraged to work in the medium of their choice. In this class there will be students working in oils, acrylics, water colors, pastels, collage , and any combination you can think of . . . .if you are painting we ask that you please bring and take home with you your solvent or water.
We have several easels here at the center and plan to purchase more….it will be first come first serve, so you may want to come early to setup and assure yourself a good spot.
If you would like to bring your own paint box easel feel free to do so. What to expect of this class:
In this class we often use nude models sometimes models are draped other times we may use a clothed model in an interior.
Artists will have the opportunity to paint or draw the model in various settings, lighting and props…
There will be artists of different abilities in the same class, I feel this is a great way to learn. A beginner might work along side an expert and have the opportunity to watch him or her put things together.
The creativity that moves around the room is contagious, often at the end of the class during the critique each piece will be completely different, just like the painters!
Please keep in mind that this is not a competition, everyone has their own unique vision. I look forward to working with you!
WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING YOUR CLASS SAFE
The safety of our students, teachers, patrons, volunteers, and staff is our highest priority. A number of adjustments have been put in place to keep everyone safe for in-person classes at the Cultural Center. We are disinfecting public spaces frequently and have installed hand sanitizer stations throughout the building. To ensure the safety of those around you, please wear a mask, practice social distancing, and in other ways follow CDC guidelines while at the Cultural Center.
Thank you!