The holidays are the perfect time to celebrate life and spend time with family, friends, and loved ones. However, during the holiday season it can also be stressful to keep your mental and physical health in the forefront of your mind. This season, make sure you continue to build in time for your health and wellness, let creativity melt your stress.
The Art Center Highland Park and NorthShore University HealthSystem have partnered to bring health and wellness to the community. Take a few moments for yourself and try one of these winter mini classes. Bring friends and family with you.

These workshops will give you the opportunity to make gifts for your family and friends, experience the visceral joy of being in a drum circle, and taking a moment to relax and create.

December 5th, Life Rhythms Drum & Singing Circle Workshop

Life Rhythms is focused on adults wanting to improve memory and participate in making music on an individual and group level. There are significant intellectual, social and emotional benefits inherent in making music and research has shown that drum circles can improve cognitive activity by allowing participants to be a part of something they feel has purpose. Keeping engaged and active by participating in recreational and therapeutic drumming activities in a community setting benefits long term health and wellness and overall quality of life.

December 7th, Visual Storytelling through Phototransfer
This unique, hands-on workshop with local artist Victoria Marchio will provide you with an opportunity to select and transfer your own images to create a mixed-media canvas that will tell a story about the theme of your choosing. By using carefully chosen images and text you can create a canvas that expresses a political, social, moral, or cultural issue that is of importance to you. Watch powerful images emerge from a theme about which you feel passionate!

December 13th The Joy Project: Art and Wellness
Introduce art to your wellness practice in this one day workshop and find joy in the creative process by slowing down and taking a breath. Through exercises in mindfulness, play, journaling and expressive art making, we will discover the connection between

creative activities and well-being. Each class begins with setting an intention and a warm-up exercise. Discover your creativity by playing with paint and other mediums in a relaxed and supportive environment.

December 13th Making Mandala Ornaments Workshop
Come explore mandala patterns and color combinations as we design, draw, and paint on pre-cut wooden ornaments for you to take home. Great for gifts or holiday decorations.

These are a few of the offerings to brighten up your holiday. Check out our website: theartcenterhp.org you can see all the winter-mini classes that can help your outlook this holiday.

Wishing you and your family a very happy and healthy holiday season.