Local author and artist Amy Oestreicher will be holding an art-inspired writing workshop and book signing at Palette of Sisterhood at Stamford downtown, at 96 Bedford St.
Local author, multidisciplinary artist and TEDx Speaker Amy Oestreicher will be leading an art-inspired writing workshop at the Palette of Sisterhood Gallery, September 8th from 5-8. Participation is free and open to writers and non-writers alike.
Oestreicher’s mixed media paintings currently displayed as part of Palette of Sisterhood Part 2, in downtown Stamford, where her art will be featured through Sunday, Sept. 15, along with 9 other women artists from diverse backgrounds — Tara Blackwell, Alicia C. Cobb, Samantha Cosentino, Jane Cowles, Anne Gattilia, Laurie A. Guzda, Flavia Moraes Lodato, Amrita Majumder, and Cyn Elise Sterback — at the 96 Bedford St. gallery.
For the Sunday evening event, Oestreicher will lead participants in writing and storytelling exercises inspired by the artwork and creative prompts. No writing or art experience is required, just a desire to imagine, experiment and play.
The gallery said it is offering a variety of events, workshops and talks that focus on women — women artists supporting women artists to foster and encourage their voices and creativity.
"With creative tools, tips and exercises, you’ll discover how the ability to write from personal experiences strengthens your connection to yourself, your community, and the road ahead,” Oestreicher says, who gave a TEDx talk on "detours" in 2016.
“When things don’t go as we plan, life can get stressful. Stress can make us feel like we’re entirely alone in our struggles. So how can we turn these detours into welcomed surprises that bring us together?
A “detour” doesn't have to be a life-altering event. A detour can be as simple as going in a different direction that you had anticipated. Living life as “Detourists” enables us to become empowered by surprises, and excited for unexpected events. Then, we can thrive in any sort of uncertainty. As Detourists, we look for the upside of obstacles. We welcome the unexpected change in our “thought-out” life, and see what opportunities may arise.
You’ll participate in expressive, creative exercises using art, writing, and storytelling to find your own “flower” from any detour in your life so far.
The event will feature drinks and snacks, as well as a short reading from Oestreicher’s memoir, “My Beautiful Detour: An Unthinkable Journey from Gutless to Grateful.”
Oestreicher will also be signing copies of her book, which has just been released this July.
For more information on the workshop, see the Facebook event.
Amy Oestreicher is a PTSD specialist, artist, Huffington Post columnist, RAINN speaker, award-winning health advocate, actress Audie-Award nominated playwright, and author of "My Beautiful Detour: An Unthinkable Journey from Gutless to Grateful." Her first solo musical, Gutless & Grateful, has earned seven national awards since its 2012 NYC debut in 2012, and she recently premiered her one-woman original musical, Passageways, at HERE Arts Center. Her writings have appeared in Washington Post and On Being, among others, and she has given three TEDx Talks on transforming adversity into creative growth. She’s led writing workshops for various organizations including the Transformative Language Arts Network, and League of New England Storytellers, and as a mixed media artist, she has had solo exhibitions her paintings at Discovery Museum, Tusk & Cup, Picture This Gallery, and others. She's currently touring a mental health advocacy/sexual assault awareness program to colleges nationwide.
To learn more about Amy’s book, view her art, or TEDx Talks, visit her site www.amyoes.com.
Worksheets will be provided. Just bring a pen and notebook, if desired!
“Stories for Detourists” will be held on Sunday September 8th at the Palette of Sisterhood Pop-Up Gallery from 5-8pm on 96 Bedford Street in Downtown Stamford. RSVP and learn more details by contacting LoveMyDetour@gmail.com, or join theFacebook event.