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Esalen Institute

Creative Catalyst: The Transformative Power of Making Art

Feb 2, 2026 – Feb 6, 2026 · 5 days · Big Sur, CA

Residential
Creative Catalyst: The Transformative Power of Making Art
SecularSilence TBDBeginner-friendlyCost on site

Registration

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Retreat overview

The Artist lives within everyone!

Art can be made out of just about anything!

It’s a time to leave the critic behind and allow oneself to play, nourish, and replenish the creative spirit.

It’s also a time to enjoy the company and camaraderie of like-minded peers.

Now is your time to discover the joys of art based on community and collaboration and to find out how meaningful and grand a shared, creative experience can be.

In this transformative workshop, we will use repurposed material in a whole new context of re-creation.

Come experiment with a vast array of reused materials to create mixed-media mosaics, sculptures, and collages.

There will be an assortment of recycled glass, metals, wood, plastics, paper, photographs, fabrics, and old artifacts — bits and pieces of the past and present.

In a beautiful, nurturing, supportive setting, we will reclaim and shape society’s scraps and discarded objects into re-imagined meaning.

Find your own inner voice of expression as you delve into the process of creating art out of different materials and mediums,  and learn new skills.

Not only will you have the opportunity to explore your own expression and immerse yourself in solo creations, but we will also engage in a collaborative group project to enter the whimsical world of community-oriented magic and play.

There is a transformative joy that comes from engaging with others in the artistic process.

It opens doors unseen and forges deeper bonds between people.

This exciting, shared experience teaches us how beautiful it is to break down barriers and collaborate.

This workshop is geared toward anyone with the desire to create.

From the beginner to the advanced, this is a time to explore new possibilities.

Together, we will:

  • Explore our own creativity and immerse ourselves in solo artistic expression.
  • Engage in a collaborative group project and enter the whimsical world of community-oriented magic and play.
  • Leave the critic behind and allow ourselves to play, nourish, and replenish the creative spirit.
  • Discover the joys of art based on community and collaboration and how meaningful and grand a shared experience can be. If there are any recycled materials, special mementos, poems, or photos you would like to bring and include in our creations, please feel free! This workshop includes an additional $115 for workshop materials.
Teachers: Dana Albany, Michael "Flash" Hopkins

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Logistics

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About Esalen Institute

Big Sur retreat campus known for experiential workshops, contemplative practice, and ocean-view renewal.

Founded 1962Iconic retreat center
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