Art as Energy Work

About Art as Energy Work

Other worlds [are] invented in play, invoked in ritual, or fabricated in the arts
Ellen Dissanayake, Homo Aestheticus

Life Force Arts Center is a space for spiritually-based visual, literary and performing art. By spiritual, we don't mean being of a certain religion. Rather, spiritual means working with the flow of energy and the energy field that surrounds every person, place and thing.

Many artists ground their practice in the concept of healing through transforming energy. This concept of energy healing is shared by many indigenous cultures, as well as the Asian world. For example, the acupuncture and herbs of Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine are based in balancing energy. The shaman's role is to heal through shifting energy, and shamans often have used the arts to accomplish this goal.

In healing from an energetic standpoint, we focus transforming the energy to a positive, healthy state. As Peter Abbs (1991) says:

Art should not refer to a series of discrete artifacts or what some critics call "art objects" but to a highly complex web of energy linking the artist to the audience, and both artist and audience to all inherited culture. (Abbs, 1991, pp.247- 248)

Literary Events

Writers of all kinds - fiction, non-fiction, poets, playwrights - who work from a spiritual basis find a home and an enthusiastic audience at Life Force Arts Center. Authors present lectures, book signings, workshops and other events.

Performance Series

Audiences love the energy of the performances at Life Force Arts Center! You'll find enjoyment, healing and connection to Spirit through the "art as energy work" of singers, instrumentalists, dancers, actors and storytellers who grace our Performance Series.

Bonni Belts the Blues
Barrelhouse Bonni
Blues To Gold: Musical Magicakl Alchemy
www.barrelhousebonni.com

As with the visual and literary artists at LFAC, our performers are often teachers and healers as well as artists, and they offer classes and healing sessions as well as performances at LFAC.

Please see our Calendar pages for a complete listing of events and to purchase tickets.

Mark Kater, Storyteller
www.harmonyyogacenter.com

Life Force Ensemble
Joan Forest Mage, Barry Bennett, James Cornolo

Visual Art Exhibits

Life Force Arts Center features the work of numerous artists and artisans of all kinds. From oil paintings to digital photography, statuary, ceramics, jewelry, "wearable art" clothing to handmade greeting cards, all our items are beautiful and spiritually uplifting. Most of our artists are local to the Chicago area, and we promote a variety of approaches to spiritual art.

Praying Kerub by Paul Ruckert
www.paulruckertart.com

We have visual art exhibits, and artists conduct programs such as lectures, classes and rituals that combine art and healing. See our Calendar for listings of exhibits and activities. Artwork can be purchased in our Gallery.

Sri Chakra Yantra by Laurel Smith
www.movinglightgallery.com

Resident Artists

Louise Cloutier is a vocalist, composer and sound healer. She has written music for dance companies in New York, Chicago, Boston & Montreal, also for theatre, sculpture, video & site-specific works. Join us for Louise's Shamanci Cabaret evenings at LFAC. "One of those rare, world-class talents who combines an evanescent spirit with a voice that soars to the heights of heaven and plumbs the depths of the soul." --Tim Fiori, Artistic Director: Blue Rider Theatre, Chicago

Joan Forest Mage, the founder and director of the Life Force Arts Foundation, is honored to serve as a shamanic healer, educator and performing artist in her hometown of Chicago. A Certified Movement Analyst (Laban Institute), she has studied shamanism, energy work and healing ritual with numerous teachers and organizations. Joan has thirty years of professional performing and teaching experience as a dancer, singer and theater performer, and is the head of Life Force Ensemble, a shamanic world music band and performing company. Joan has a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Professional Studies from School for New Learning, DePaul University, with the focus area "Creating Healing Ritual Through the Arts." Joan has taught workshops and training programs in the arts and body movement since 1985, and in shamanism since 1996.