There is healing through music.
The Arts and Wellness Retreat with Jim Donovan and Rachel Allen will be held Friday and Saturday at the University of Pittsburgh Wellness Center on the Johnstown Campus in Richland Township.
This event aims to showcase the healing potential of music, movement, mindfulness and drumming.
“We have been contacted by community groups asking what they can do on campus to engage the community in the arts and wellness sector,” said Janie Grella, executive director of the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center. “We’ve had programs in the past, but we’re trying to make things a little more consistent and regular. We want to make some kind of arts and wellness gathering an annual event. We believe this will be our first attempt.”
Donovan performs with his own band, The Sun King Warriors, and was a founding member of the triple platinum band Rusted Root.
He specializes in providing music and wellness programs to organizations focused on people with disabilities and people recovering from addiction.
Allen is a certified music practitioner known locally, nationally, and internationally for weaving live music, yoga, and creative movement into themes of compassion, self-acceptance, and transformation.
“We encourage people to experience music as health, and that’s something that Jim and I both have deep roots in,” Allen said. “This event is meaningful for anyone who wants to incorporate music into their lives from a health support perspective, and there are many applications for what Jim and I do and how it can be incorporated into the UPJ environment. You can look forward to it.”
The event begins Friday with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a welcome address by Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spector.
At 7 p.m., Donovan will lead a session on “Drumming: Music and Mindfulness Self-Care Strategies.”
Breakfast is served on Saturdays at 8 a.m.
Allen will speak “Mindful Movement, Music, and Meditation: Physical Practices for Building Resiliency” at 9 a.m.
“Whenever you’re in a space with people and co-create something that’s based on your experience as a participant rather than a performance, these things not only help you learn personal lessons from using music, but also help people… “We see that building social cohesion and connections between, sound and movement for health,” Allen said.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own drums, but drums will be provided.
“I hope that people can take away something that has an impact on their lives and how art is part of our well-being and how we communicate, express and connect with others. It helps us understand what can be a tool,” Grela said. “We’re all caregivers, including ourselves, so it’s important to take a moment to reflect and find ways to reduce stress and find balance in our lives.”
The retreat is supported by the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance and the 1889 Foundation.
The cost is $40 per person.
For registration and a complete schedule of events, please visit www.upjarts.org.
Kelly Urban is a reporter for the Tribune-Democrat. She can be reached at (814) 532-5073. Follow her on Twitter. {a style=”font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;” href=”http://twitter.com/kellyurban25” target=”_blank”}@KellyUrban25{/a}.
Kelly Urban is a reporter for the Tribune-Democrat. She can be reached at (814) 532-5073. Follow her on Twitter @KellyUrban25.
