SaludArte: arts & wellness
a celebration of arts, wellness, and belonging
Art Journey Workshops
Artist Suanne Goings leads workshops that use art to promote healing and reflection.
you & me mandalas
Monday, March 25, 6:00pm, for pairs, ages 12-adult, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Create your individual mandala and then fit the two together in a larger representation of who you are together.
Mandalascapes Workshop
Thursday, March 28, 10:30am in the Meeting Room, for ages 18+
Create a canvas mounted mandala that is just for you and perfect as an artful reflection of where you have been, where you are, and where your journey can lead.
Vision Journal Making
Wednesday, April 17 10:30am, for ages 18+
Visual journaling is a powerful tool in tracking and planning our personal journeys of wellness.
It’s about Time Shadow Box
Monday, April 22 & Thursday, April 25, each day at 6pm, (This is a 2-day workshop!)
for ages 18+
Take time for yourself as you learn the power of compartmentalizing time, celebrating and creating memories, and honoring the past as you dream of the future.
Guided Meditation
in the Gallery
Weekday: Tuesday
Time: 6-7pm
Location: Library Meeting Room
Dates: March 5, April 2, May 21 Instructor: Kim Finn
For ages 16+ (anyone under 18 must have a guardian consent to participate)
Dr. Kim Finn teaches us how to artfully work our way through stress and anxiety with self-coping skills. Bring your own yoga mat and towel, or use a chair that is provided, for an hour of meditation surrounded by community art.
Guided Meditation uses a teacher to lead participants through breathing and focus practices. It helps ease anxiety and reduce stress, boosts mood and helps to increase focus. The practice can be done seated in a chair or on the floor with a yoga mat. This workshop is designed to give participants principles and exercises they can take home to use on their own.
Dr. Finn is a doctor of rehabilitation counseling and assistant professor at UTRGV. She is also the coordinator for the UTRGV Expressive Arts program, which uses the arts as a therapeutic pathway to healing. Dr. Finn is part of the core team of community partners who are working with the City of Edinburg Cultural Arts Division on an Arts for EveryBody grant project to promote using the arts for healing in communities. As one of 18 communities across the nation, and the only one in Texas, Edinburg is developing programs that promote arts, health, and belonging.
On Saturday, September 30, 9am-12pm in the City Hall Courtyard, 415 W University Dr. Edinburg Cultural Arts hosted this family-friendly and FREE event.
The celebration began with a Move With the Mayor walk led by members of the UTRGV Marching Band. There was time for improvisational theatre, mindfulness exercises, dancing, a drumming circle, and learning from demonstrating artists and vendors, including UTRGV Ceramics, Randerie's Freshly Squeezed Lemonade, 2Vet Fruit Cups, UTRGV Health Disparities Projects, Health In Harmony, UTRGV Hub of Prosperity, Driscoll Health Plan, and more.
“Working with local artists and health partners, the City of Edinburg is planning projects and programs that will celebrate the community’s resilience, color, and artistic richness,” says Magdiel Castle, Assistant Director of Cultural Arts. “SaludArte is the kick-off event for the coming year, during which Edinburg is proving how we showcase our rich Mexican culture and embrace our growing diversity. Our plans include public mural projects, arts and wellness-based classes and workshops, and growing the artistic workforce.”
These art programs will set a foundation for the programming at the City’s Art, Culture, and Event Center (ACE) scheduled to open in June 2024. Participants joining the September 30th walk will see the progress of the building, which will be in the heart of the City’s festival grounds.
SaludArte brings together the City’s commitments to health, arts, and belonging, aligning with their participation in the One Nation One Project (ONOP) and National League of Cities (NLC) “Arts For Every Body” campaign. Edinburg is one of 18 cities, and the only city in Texas, to be selected to participate. The ONOP and NLC are using the arts to create unity in communities. On July 27, 2024, all 18 cities will host an arts & wellness event in their community. In addition to the Edinburg Library & Cultural Arts, other community partners in the project include the Hidalgo County Health Department, UTRGV, ECISD, STC, and local artists and citizens.