8-Day 'Art of Being' Mindful Art Retreat in Sicily

Name: 8-Day 'Art of Being' Mindful Art Retreat in Sicily
Start: 2024-07-06
End: 2024-07-13
Location: Art Of Being
Rating: 5

5.001 review

Azienda Agrituristica Masseria S. Giovanni Sgadari, Via Giulio Litterio Sgadari, San Giovanni, PA, Italy

Up to 12 in group

July 6 - 13, 2024

Retreat Highlights

DAY 1: LANDING | Welcome to San Giovanni Sgadari! Settle in at 5pm for an introduction to mindfulness and an overview of the week ahead as you get to know your co-participants over a welcome dinner.
DAY 2: FINDING YOUR LINE | Let go of fear and hesitation as we bring our whole selves to the line on the page in an exploration of mindfulness, line drawing, and mark-making.
DAY 3: A MAP OF CURIOSITY | The questions that inspire our curiosity; the passions that make us come alive form an arc across our lifetime. We will use the art of map-making to chart our unique terrain of curiosity, passion, and purpose.
DAY 4: HARNESSING THE ELEMENTS | The elements of earth, water, air, and fire surround us and flow through us. A variety of meditation and art practices will allow us to tap into each of these elements and give visual expression to our experience of them.
DAY 5: A LARGER TAPESTRY | Explore how our lives are woven into a larger tapestry – one that connects us to generations of ancestors before us, to the places we inhabit, and to all with whom we share this life.
DAY 6: BEING IN THE WORLD | Everything in nature has a way of being. We will see what nature has to tell us about our own way of being in the world. Artist Anne Bolduc will guide us through the process of making natural inks from plants found on-site.
DAY 7: PRESENCE & LIGHT | The elegant Madonie mountain town of Castelbuono will be the setting for an exploration of contemplative photography at the workshop of Gianni Cusumano. We will return at sundown for a festive dinner at the Masseria.
DAY 8: DEPARTURE Enjoy a full breakfast before departing at 10 am.

About this Retreat

Your Guides

Michael

Details of this retreat

Join us for a week of personal and creative discovery in the enchanted land of Sicily! "Art of Being" is a unique retreat program joining mindful-awareness meditation with contemplative arts experiences designed to help you see yourself and your life from a new perspective.

Our theme for the program is "A Larger Tapestry." Each day you will be guided through practices you can take back into your daily life.

These are woven together with contemplative art experiences intended to cultivate your innate capacity for artistic expression and to help you see your life as part of the larger human tapestry. No experience in meditation or art is required.

The process is more important than the work we produce.

Art of Being focuses on artmaking as a contemplative practice – one that values the creative act and process over the final product that is created. The following Core Beliefs will help to clarify the purpose and view of art in Art of Being:

1. Everyone is an Artist

It is our birthright, our natural heritage from our earliest human ancestors to make visual meaning of our experiences. We each have a unique human experience and story to tell, without which, the great human tapestry would be incomplete.

2. Art is an Expression of Authentic Self

Art is an expression of who we are. Letting go of doubt and hesitation, we can step out of our own way and allow artistic expression to flow naturally from us, like the genuine confidence of our signature or the natural imprint of our finger on the page.

3. Contemplative Practice Creates a Space for Authentic Artmaking

When we settle our mind and come back to our being in the present moment, we’re more in touch with our authentic self, more deeply aware of what is unfolding before us. That deeper awareness is the ground out of which authentic artmaking can naturally arise.

Schedule

7:30 AM
Silent morning meditation practice
8:00 AM
Breakfast
9:00 AM
Meditation instruction and guided practice
10:00 AM
Daily theme exploration, discussion, and journaling
12:00 PM
Lunch
2:00 PM
Art experience
7:00 PM
Dinner
8:00 PM
Evening mindfulness practice

Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Art Of Being, Azienda Agrituristica Masseria S. Giovanni Sgadari, Via Giulio Litterio Sgadari, San Giovanni, PA, Italy

Directions

Book your flight to Falcone–Borsellino Airport (PMO) or Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA). Transfer may be booked for an additional fee of 50 € each way*.

Transfers are offered on arrival day (3 pm from CTA or PMO) and departure day (10 am from the Masseria). Travel time is approximately 2 hours. Transfers can be arranged from other points of departure within Sicily on request for an additional fee.

*Fare is per person based on a minimum of 3 people booking the transfer service. With 2 people, the rate is €75 per person each way. The rate for 1 person is €150 each way.

Accommodation

The Masseria offers three room categories in the main farmhouse building and a collection of stone cottages overlooking the valley. Each cottage (2-3 occupants) features a double/twin bedroom, bath, outdoor patio space, A/C, and an additional sleeping area, partitioned with a floor-to-ceiling curtain. All rates include 7 nights accommodation and meals.

Single Farmhouse Room

Single Deluxe Cottage Room

Single Economy Cottage Room

Double Farmhouse Room

Private Cottage (2 People)

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms

Free Wifi

Spa

Sauna

Pool

Towels

Free Parking

Kitchen

Tour Assistance

Hot Tub

Coffee/Tea

Cafe

Restaurant

Fitness Center

Yoga Studio

Housekeeping

Bicycles For Rent

The location of a retreat is important, for it is the fertile ground of transformation. Arriving through the meandering country roads into the hamlet of San Giovanni Sgadari will feel like coming home.

The Masseria San Giovanni Sgadari farm estate has been in the hands of Maria Antonietta Sgadari’s family for over 300 years, and she is passionate about sharing her family traditions and welcoming programs like ours into the heart of this special place.

Meals

Menu Types

Vegan

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

Ayurvedic

Includes Meat

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Nut Free

Be nurtured by the simple, healthy meals prepared in the Kitchen at San Giovanni Sgadari. Meals are vegetarian with vegan and gluten-free options available.

What's Included

7 nights accommodation, towel, sheets, and 1 room cleaning per week
Coffee, tea, and continental breakfast each morning
Wholesome vegetarian lunch and dinner each day
Non-alcoholic beverages (juice, tea, coffee) & snacks each day
Use of meditation cushions and mats
Basic art materials, including dry and wet media, paper, and brushes (please bring any specific materials you wish to work with, as well as a journal or sketchbook)

What's Not Included

Flights cost
Airport transfer available for additional fee
Travel insurance
Please note: Final registration is not confirmed until registration form is accepted by organizer.

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

Andrei • Dec 18, 2019

5.0

A GREAT EXPERIENCE!

Michael was a great teacher. The program allowed participants to explore the practices in their own way and he gave guidance when it was needed or desired. I got a lot out of the meditation sessions and was able to develop my connection to creativity in ways I had not imagined before. I would highly recommend this retreat!