The Power of Claiming Face
In August Maya did a CLAIMING FACE Educator Training through the Arts Council for Monterey County. The participants were bursting with creative energy and passion. After the class, we received this wonderful quote from one of the participants that reminded us why we do this work.
Filed under CLAIMING FACE, Events, Maya in the Classroom | Tags: CLAIMING FACE, creative process, creativity, educators, empowerment, review | Comment (0)I want to extend my deepest appreciation for the training class with Maya Christina Gonzalez. It was just a wonderful experience for me as a mother, artist and teacher.
So many important points were discussed regarding children’s self esteem and feeling like they belong in our world and to participate in our society. I’ve always taught with the underlying intention for children to recognize their place in our world and to feel great about themselves on all levels.
Maya has developed a great program that Continue reading »
Reflection Press turns 1!
We did it! Thanks to the awesome support from our friends and community, Reflection Press turns 1 this month! And as a special anniversary treat for our blog readers we’ve assembled a mini-guide to Claiming Face that specifically focuses on The 3 Rules. Request your free copy and learn more about Claiming Face: Self-Empowerment through Self-Portraiture.
We also created a video reflection of our past year, how the creative process worked for us, and some of our plans for the future. You can view the short 5 minute video below. Thanks for your support in making this a great first year!!
Watching the Master at Work
I went along with Maya this last Thursday, April 29th, as she visited an elementary school in Pacifica, CA. I’ve gone along on Maya’s presentations in the past, usually for a library or classroom visit where there’s maybe 30-40 kids, but never an assembly-style one where she speaks to over 300 children at once. I have to say, I couldn’t do it. Not yet anyway. It’s funny though, I can’t help but get nervous for her. I always ask her, “aren’t you nervous? You don’t really know what they want you to do or how many kids you’ll be speaking to!?” She laughs and shrugs and says, “It’s exciting, I love to play!” with a huge smile.
On this day, we arrived nice and early to check in and they almost seemed surprised to see us. We didn’t know much of the details beforehand or whether the children had been reading any of her books in the classroom in preparation for her visit. I just kept thinking that I couldn’t do what she does. I like to know what I’m getting myself into, what the general plan is. I like plans. Maya, she likes surprises. She asked Continue reading »
Filed under Maya in the Classroom | Tags: children, children's books, creative process, presentations, school visit | Comment (0)Tales from “Our Community, Ourselves” Diversity Conference
Spring is here and we’ve been all over the place. I’m one of those terribly homey people. I LOVE home. But I also LOVE to travel. India, Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, New York, Philadelphia, South Carolina, Vallejo, Alameda County… The world fascinates me with its beauty and variation, from the far away and vastly different to the close to home and still different! In San Francisco, we live in what I jokingly refer to as an “adjacent reality,” similar to the rest of the country, but noticeably unique. Ahhh, San Francisco, she’s an island unto herself in some ways. So even when we only travel a county or two away, I feel like we’re on an adventure…away from our familiar little village of the Castro and Mission Districts, away from the public trains and rolling fog, our local markets and favorite strolls.
This last Friday, April 23rd, we were up before the sun and off to the Newark Hilton for the Diversity Conference sponsored by Child, Family and Community Services, Inc. of Alameda County. I love doing these things with Matthew. He drives and I navigate. Usually I’ve been alone, so I drive and I have no idea who’s navigating. We got there nice and early and set up our table. It was the first public event for Claiming Face, the Educator’s Guide, and Continue reading »
CLAIMING FACE in Life – The Making of the Book, Part 1
We have the very first book in hand now. As I hold it I can feel the heft of its 236 pages. The cover is slick and vibrant. It looks and feels like “fresh book.” But it also feels like it has existed forever. I have done a lot of books in my time, but nothing like this. This book is my life. I can sense how it has grown in me ever since I was a child. It feels like me. As personal as it is, it could not have been created this way without partnering with Matthew for it. I think it’s an honest estimation to say that we are each wildly creative in separate, but fabulously complimentary ways. One of Matthew’s many strengths is his attention to great detail and clarity. He has architecture in his blood. I love structure, but often find that dismantling is more my focus. I need a lot of freedom.
Coupled with our individual style we both also engage with creativity differently. I see it as a powerful force I was born with that serves as my teacher. I also see that Continue reading »
Filed under CLAIMING FACE, The Creative Process | Tags: book process, CLAIMING FACE, creative process, creativity, series | Comment (0)
