Spinning a web of connections in our lives!
My name is Lindsay Beal, and I am the owner of Spider's Eye, a home-based, creative arts business in Victoria, British Columbia.
Art Teacher, Group Facilitator, Artist
I received my Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (2 years in Theatre) in 2001 and recently completed my M.Ed.in Art Education at the University of Victoria, BC.
I have been involved in creative arts from childhood, teaching my first class at age 10 to children ages 4 - 7 years. Since then and to the present, I have taught, and facilitated creative arts groups to children and adults, many of whom, have mental illness, Asperger's, M.S., acquired brain injury, or developmental disabilities.
My art education began as the youngest in a family of artists. Growing up in a house abundant in supplies and art books, complete with a mother who has a degree in Art Education, my appreciation, and adoption of the arts became second nature. My education continued with private classes and workshops, including courses at the Victoria College of Art and a variety of performing arts techniques such as Playback Theatre, Headlines Theatre's POWER PLAY training program and Pochinko Baby Clown. I spent nine years with the Alternatives to Violence Project at Wm. Head Correctional Institute, facilitating workshops and training facilitators.
For over 12 years I've been working at the Victoria Brain Injury Society coordinating and running the Personal Enhancement Program and various art groups (writing, dance, and visual arts).Since 2007 I have enjoyed working with Pandora Arts Collective Society, running an inclusive open studio.
Learning and teaching are inseparable, like two sides of the same coin. I love groups, because dynamic interaction has a way of flipping that coin so steadily, and subtly, it's a game to keep track of it.
Nature*
Nature is my most committed collaborator in all my creative endeavors. In exploring ideas and issues, I find the clearest translations from nature.
Nature reveals the existence of mystery, incites adventure, and offers intimacy. It is a source of inspiration, a refuge, and messenger. Nothing is more relaxing and rejuvenating than surrendering to its rhythm.
*Nature: plant and animal life as distinct from human. Collins Dictionary.
The Spider
Sometimes I'm clever, but mostly I just try to follow directions. I say 'try' because it's often difficult to differentiate a base and temporal reaction from a truly ethereal directive.
For many years in my youth, the Spider triggered a reaction of alarm-coated awe. It wasn't until I learned the most powerful messages can be veiled with the most frightening images, that I began with trepidation to view the world through the Spider's Eye. This is when I realized I could lead my life accordingly, or not.
Living Art*
My prayer is to use my intelligence, my compassion and my will to experience the world artfully, and to respond artfully: with integrity, spontaneity, and authenticity.
*Art: the exercise of human skill as distinguished from nature. Collins Dictionary.