Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Saturday from 11am - 4 pm | 191 S. Main St. Akron, OH 44308 | Mailing Address: 121 South Main Street Suite 500 Akron, OH
Gallery is open Wed-Sat 11AM - 4PM at 191 King James Way Akron, OH 44308
Sat, Sep 16
|Akron Children's Museum
“I AM” A Self Affirmation Workshop
Gina Washington’s goal is for everyone to get a chance to explore their own sense of self using two of the most powerful words one can speak, "I Am." Akron Soul Train is honored to work with the Akron Children’s Museum to present this unique workshop for families.
Time & Location
Sep 16, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Akron Children's Museum, 51. W. State Street, Mailing Address:, 216 S Main St, Akron, OH 44308, USA
About the event
Free for Akron Children’s Museum Members
Families with children 5 and up recommended
Register for the event at https://akronkids.org/calendar/calendar-view
Gina Washington is an artist and spiritual guide who aims to help people explore their sense of self through the powerful words "I Am." She is collaborating with Akron Soul Train and the Akron Children's Museum to offer this unique workshop for families. This workshop encourages participants to delve into their individual, familial, and community identities.
The workshop process involves three steps:
- Think it: Through meditation and self-reflection, participants contemplate the phrase "I am" to gain a deeper understanding of themselves.
- Create it: Through writing and art-making, participants express their self-identities creatively.
- State it aloud: Participants share their self-identities with others, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and understanding.
Gina's motivation for creating this workshop, particularly for younger children, is to combat the "BULLY culture" by fostering self-love and self-acceptance. If children have a strong sense of their unique selves and can confidently express who they are, it becomes difficult for others to question or undermine their identities.
Gina Washington's background includes an MFA in Photography from Ohio University. She describes herself as "a Child of the Universe" with a passion for traveling and connecting with artists worldwide. She has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally and has received various residencies and awards, including the Assembly for the Arts Arts Leadership Residency and A Room in the House Residency through Karamu House.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Gina is the founder of Mateza Gallery LLC on Etsy and co-founded The Visit Arts Collective. Her overarching goal is to use art as a means to bring clarity and solutions to the chaos in the world while making art accessible to all, particularly those who are disenfranchised and underrepresented in the global community. Gina Washington is not only an artist but also a spiritual guide, using her talents and experiences to promote self-discovery, self-expression, and positive change through the arts.