Restore + Explore: Reflective Writing and Intuitive Collage
Connect with your community at this enriching public program.
Upcoming sessions will be available for purchase on Sun., Jan. 19, at 10:30 a.m.
During each workshop, instructors Kimberly Lee and Victoria Clayton explore a different garden or work of art, followed by a nature-inspired creative writing prompt. As you connect with the beauty of the natural world, you’ll be encouraged to observe and reflect for inspiration and personal insight. Back in the classroom, we’ll continue the theme of each garden visit through intuitive collage-making, creating pieces that reflect your inner landscape. These collages will serve as a springboard for further journaling, deepening your connection to nature and your creative journey.
- Jan. 19 | Unexpected Gifts
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Winter blooms are nature’s surprising treasures, delicate bursts of beauty in unlikely moments. Stroll with us through the Desert Garden, where the unexpected awaits. Together, we’ll reflect and write about life’s miracles and surprises. Back in the classroom, we’ll transform the theme of unexpected gifts into art, creating collages that celebrate moments of unforeseen wisdom. Where have you discovered an unanticipated gem of insight—even in life’s challenging chapters?
- Feb. 9 | Wild Juxtaposition
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Have you encountered The Huntington’s extraordinary sausage tree? The Kigelia africana is a vivid reminder that nature thrives in the bizarre and beautiful. Walk with us to marvel at this specimen, a celebration of wild contrasts. Together, we’ll write about the mystical, fantastical, beautiful, and not-so-beautiful moments that shape our lives. Back in the classroom, we’ll bring these reflections to life, crafting collages that explore juxtaposition—the real, the surreal, and the magical.
- Feb. 23 | The Many Faces of Love
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Few things speak the language of love as eloquently as cherry blossoms. Join us for a stroll beneath their delicate blooms, a perfect setting to reflect on the powerful force of love in all its forms. Let your thoughts flow onto the page as we write about love’s many expressions. Back in the classroom, we’ll keep the theme alive, crafting collages that celebrate the heart, love, and the bonds of affection.
- March 2 | Letting Go & Welcoming In
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Step with us into the serene sanctuary of the Pavilion for Washing Away Thoughts, a hidden retreat perfect for reflection. Consider what you’re ready to release: What needs to be washed away to make room for something new? After this cleansing pause, we’ll return to the classroom to shift our focus. What do you long to welcome into your life? Together, we’ll create collages that glimpse into what you truly desire.
- March 9 | Roots of Wisdom
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Take a walk with us to the papyrus plants, where the story of paper begins. Reflect on the roots of knowledge and inspiration: What fuels your curiosity and shapes your growth? What can you offer as a teacher to others? Together, we’ll write about moments and memories that have shaped who we are. Back in the classroom, we’ll draw from the wisdom of nature, creating collages that offer insight into the path ahead.
Photo collage examples by Kimberly Lee, J.D., and Victoria Clayton, M.A.
About the Instructors
Kimberly Lee, J.D., is a versatile writer, editor, creativity coach, and facilitator with a passion for nurturing the imaginative spirit. A graduate of Stanford University and University of California, Davis School of Law, she is a Guided Autobiography, SoulCollage®, and Journal to the Self® facilitator and serves on the board of Amherst Writers & Artists. A teaching artist with Hugo House, the Writing Salon, and the Loft Literary Center, Lee has led workshops at numerous retreats and conferences, including the Omega Institute, Arts & Healing Initiative, and the Expressive Therapies Summit. Her stories and essays have appeared in numerous publications and anthologies, including LA Parent, Words and Whispers, Toyon, and Minerva Rising, and on the BetterSleep app. She has served on the staffs of Literary Mama, F(r)iction, and Carve magazines. Lee trusts in the magic of miracles and synchronicity and believes that everyone is creative.
Victoria Clayton, M.A., brings a wealth of experience as an award-winning journalist, fiction writer and magazine editor, as well as a lifelong yoga and meditation practitioner. Her work has appeared in the Guardian, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Open Mind, Barrelhouse, Literary Mama, and many other publications. She has taught as an adjunct professor of communications at California Lutheran University and as a visiting instructor of literary journalism for the Intuitive Writing Project. Clayton has also served as a writer/editor for academic institutions and nonprofits, such as the California Health Care Foundation; the University of California, Irvine; and Providence Foundations. She’s certified in Reiki and UCLA’s Dance for All somatic movement program. She holds an M.A. from the Missouri School of Journalism and is an active member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors and SoCal Science Writing.
In-Person Class Ticketing Policies
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Tickets are not sold at the door for this event.
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To join the waitlist for this event, please email publicprograms@huntington.org. A space is not guaranteed, and you will be contacted if a space becomes available.
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To receive a refund, you must cancel at least 5 days prior to the event. Cancellations made within 5 days of the event will not be refunded.