[Free Monthly Gathering]
Art Church: Where Art Illuminates Life
every Fourth Thursday
7-8:30 pm Eastern
on Zoom
Explore your Inner World through the Magic of Art
You know how some books or writings are considered “sacred”? Well, I believe art can be like that too. Not in a stuffy, religious way, but in a “wow, this really makes me think and feel things” kind of way.
That’s what Art Church™ is all about. We’re a secular-yet-spiritual group that dives into all sorts of art, treating it like it’s full of hidden wisdom. Because, honestly, it is.
Every month, we get together for free live sessions to explore art from all over the world and throughout history. We’re talking paintings, sculptures, photos, music, dance, you name it. If it speaks to the human experience, we’re interested.
Here’s what happens in Art Church™:
- We dig into artworks to really connect with them. Sometimes an old painting makes us think about our own lives in a new way. Other times, a modern sculpture gets us talking about life’s big questions.
- We look at art from all kinds of periods, cultures, and styles. It’s not about being an expert (none of us are). It’s about being open to what the art might stir up in us.
- You’ll get to share your own insights and learn from others.
We use art as both a mirror for self-reflection and a window to new perspectives. It’s personal, it’s about connection, and it’s definitely not about memorizing art history facts.
Whether you’re an art enthusiast or just curious, you’re welcome here. We’re all about personal growth, spiritual exploration (the non-preachy kind), and making meaningful connections.
So come join us. Let’s use art to understand ourselves and each other a little better.
Trust me, it can lead to some pretty amazing conversations.
How to Participate
1. Join the email list. Enter your email above to receive the meeting’s Zoom link, meeting dates/times, important announcements, and reminders via email.
2. Join the Facebook group. Participate in related discussions and get event reminders and announcements in our Facebook group. ** Not required to participate but recommended!
About Your Guide
My name is Cindy Ingram, and I am an author, writer, artist, poet, educator, and entrepreneur. Connecting with works of art and crafting innovative learning activities are my superpowers, and I have dedicated my life to bringing the magic of art connection to others.
A former art museum educator and art teacher with a B.A. in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.A. in Art Education from the University of North Texas, I have supported teachers and their students through my work as founder and CEO of Art Class Curator since 2014.
I am passionate about taking art out of dark, stuffy lecture halls and out of the pretentious gatekeeping of “fine art” and into the hearts, minds, and lives of everyone who wants to experience it.
I measure my success with the volume of tears shed over the depth of beauty, connection, and humanity contained in works of art.
Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir
Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir explores my journey of finding who I am underneath all the layers of protection. Each essay incorporates a work of art that encapsulates growth experienced at pivotal moments in my life. Each piece of art is a touch point to come back to again and again as I acknowledge where I’ve been and where I am headed. From a Great White Shark swimming stealthily beneath burnout to a futuristic painting of a mask connecting me with the humanity of my long-lost biological father to a succession of painted eyes clarifying my spirituality, each artwork helps me put words and images to thoughts, feelings, and transformations that often feel too hard to explain.
How do you explain a feeling? That’s what artists do.
Praise for the Cindy’s Art Connection Workshops
“When I joined the Circle, I was at a point where I was searching for some kind of connection. I was feeling very lost. I felt like I wasn’t reaching people, and I felt like people weren’t reaching me. I have never felt more connected to a group of people through a screen than I have through the Art Connection Circle. The kind of connection that I got through the Art Connection Circle gives me hope and shows me that it is possible for me to make deep connections with people this way. And I learned that I’m not alone.”
“I went into the Circle promising myself that I was not going to share about my recent cancer. I wasn’t ready. But when Cindy put the first artwork up on day one, it spoke to me so loudly I cried. The art helped me connect with a part of me that was not ready. Art opened a door that was not there before. The art made it easier to talk about my story, and it was met with encouragement and loving kindness from the group. I learned that I can heal, and that art heals.”
“I was really surprised at how deep we were able to get in such a short time. It’s amazing how a piece of artwork can really transition you into so many other aspects to think about, whether it’s the art, your life or someone else’s, or what’s happening in the world.”
“Cindy is truly excellent at creating a safe space for the group to share, explore, and feel heard. I was never worried that I was going to say the wrong thing or that I couldn’t say something that I wanted to say because of how it would be reacted to. That safe space allowed us to create deep bonds.”
“The self-awareness I gained from the Art Connection Circle was profound. I realized how important it is for my actions to line up with my values and also what a strong hold past voices have on how I think about myself now. In the safe and non-judgemental space of the circle, I learned to always be true to myself.“
“The Art Connection Circle is a safe and accepting space, and I felt comfortable there. It was a teddy bear. It was an encyclopedia. It was a community. It was just everything rolled into one.”