ArtSpark: Mandala

This series of lessons integrates poetry, visual art creation, collaboration, and wellness.  Participants are surprised and proud of their creations, giving them confidence to reflect and share their project with their group and the wider class. The resulting mandalas are unique. Only THAT student can make THAT individual mandala; only THAT small group of 3-4 could come up with THAT unique collaborative mandala. Even the structure of the mandala, “circle” in Sanskrit, is atypical of the usual rectangular, harsh-angled paper and art work usually created in art classrooms or art workshops. 

“Researchers hypothesize that mandalas offer a soothing structure and direction while being complex enough to require the kind of heightened focus that redirects one’s attention away from anxious, roaming thoughts.”  -from Your Brain On Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross

Josie has been teaching K-adult for over 20 years. She has a Bachelor’s in art education and painting from the University of Kansas and Masters of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design in NYC. She is certified in art K-12 in three states. Josie has exhibited her own art extensively, as well as participated in community art initiatives such as murals and public workshops. She is a member of the National Art Education Association, and was the Executive Director of Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin.

Josie is the creator of ArtSpark, a carefully-curated magical box of projects and possibilities for creatives of all ages. ArtSpark themes include the mandala, art integration, and famous female artists. Mandalas are extremely accessible, proven by research to encourage mental wellness for all ages, and help recreate brain pathways for adults experiencing memory loss. Josie's personal artwork explores the mandala form through various mediums such as painting, drawing, and collage, and even food.