Celebrate, regroup, share and laugh.
As the Just Imagine Creative Arts Healing Center begins its third year of operation, founders Marty Copplestone and Laurie Gonda are eager to begin the next phase of their project. Founded in 2004 after both women lived through numerous personal tragedies, the mission was to provide a community gathering place for healing through the arts.
Two years later, after a combined anniversary party and inaugural Creative Spirit Day — a new monthly feature for the center's roster of art, family and educational events — Gonda reflected on the journey since opening.
"I'm very excited to be in a new phase of growth, we've come a long way and it has been a lot of experience and education along the way," she said. "We realized what the community really does need and found out that our space is really the best product."
After a two-year stint as a non-profit operation, with a calendar filled with events and the fulfillment of their vision, the founders stepped back and took some deep breaths. After much soul-searching and research, they decided to transform the center into a for-profit operation. This will allow them to open up their space to healing professionals or other individuals or groups who want a safe, welcoming place to hold a program, event or class — or just to hang out.
Already the center has a smoking cessation class, various art classes, a women's empowerment group and yoga classes. Newer therapists establishing their practice are drawn to the center because of high downtown rents. Other healing professionals need a larger space to hold meetings or group sessions that would not fit in their offices.
"People are just flocking in," said Copplestone. "I think people really feel safe here, it's a whole family thing. It's what we wanted in the first place."
Sunday's first Creative Spirit Day represents the eclectic mix of activities the center has become known for, revolving around a unifying idea of personal growth. The day began with a contemplative art class led by art therapist Kurt Klein, which inspired the eight participants to paint from the heart for more than two hours upstairs in the sunny main room. A planned labyrinth walk was cancelled this month but is planned as a central feature of the Creative Spirit Days on future fourth Sundays.
After a lunch of homemade soup and bread, four attendees tried out laughter yoga, an ancient healing art from India. Belly laughs, giggles and gibberish along with clapping and stretching characterized the short session.
"We took the training earlier this year, two intense days taught by Gail Robinson in Suttons Bay," said Copplestone, who noted the physical benefits of laughter, including lowered blood pressure and increased blood flow. "Laying on the floor, laughing and kicking, it's amazing what it sparks out."
Living nearby inspired Kaly Vasquez to check out the Creative Arts Healing Center and she has been volunteering there since December.
"I thought, 'What a great thing in my neighborhood,'" she said.
An artist, she is intrigued by the concept of the Creative Spirit Day and appreciated the meditation that began the contemplative art portion of the day. She took home numerous paintings from the morning's session.
"It was a nice aspect to not worry about what was going to happen," Vasquez said, adding: "I don't go to church, so this is a nice alternative to spirituality on Sunday."
The Just Imagine Creative Arts Healing Center is located at 225 W. 14th St. For more information or a schedule of classes and events, call the center at 932-9808 or visit their website at www.justimaginecahc.com.