Summer Workshop Series: From Avoidance to Action

Do you want to move your practice forward, experiment, and get projects done? Have you ever heard the litt`le voice in your head (a.k.a., the Inner Critic) whisper things like, “That’s a dumb idea,” “You don’t even know where to start,” “You’ll mess it up,” or “Maybe you should do more research first”? In this practical, neuroscience-based seminar, you will learn how to befriend your Inner Critic by paying a`ttention to what it’s really trying to tell you.

In this 90-minute seminar, you will:

• Find out why we all have an Inner Critic

• See what’s actually happening when the Inner Critic appears

• Explore why strategies like “manifesting” and “positive thinking” don’t seem to help

• Develop a method for shifthing your focus and befriending your Inner Critic

• Leave with new skills so that you can practice what you learned.

This seminar might be a good fit if:

• You’ve ever asked yourself, “Why can’t I just be more confident?”

• You have great ideas but sometimes find it hard to put them into motion

• Productivity advice like "rise and grind" or "eat the frog" doesn’t work for you

• You’re willing to try a fresh approach.

This seminar might not be a good fit if:

• You already execute 80–90% of your ideas with ease

• You’ve never wondered, “Why do I keep getting in my own way?”

• The middle of a project is your favorite part.

Please note: All arts workers are welcome to att`end , whether they call themselves “artists” or not.

Participants Bring: Notebook and writing implement(s). It’s okay to take notes on a device, but hand-writing is highly encouraged for this work.

Sliding Scale Tickets Available: Use code SAVE50 at checkout for a half price ticket

If you are able to pay full price, it makes the biggest impact for the artist & Ox. But even if you can't, we still want you to participate.

About the Artist Facilitator

Bean Gilsdorf is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and ICF-certified coach. Her collages, sculptures, and photographs have been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, the Wattis Institute, and CPW Kingston, as well as exhibition spaces in England, Italy, China, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and South Africa. She has authored reviews and essays for Artforum, Art in America, Frieze, and others; and with the support of a Warhol Foundation Writer’s Grant, she wrote the first city-wide study of visual artists in the pandemic, which was published by the Art Research Center at the University of Oregon. She is a graduate of the California College of the Arts and the Academy for Coaching Excellence.

Also check out other Arts events in Portland, Workshops in Portland, Literary Art events in Portland.