TESTIMONIALS

“It meant connecting to me. Connecting to "core" family, connecting to “local” family, connecting to earth family. It reinforced the circle of living (in the broadest sense).”

- Shade Little (Cherokee/Mattamuskeet), Center of the Universe project workshop participant

"A fresh experience for both of us, we left very impressed by your ability to make us feel comfortable doing something completely new."

- Jessie McBreairty, CROSSROADS project workshop participant

“This program meant a lot to Remy and I. We were able to connect to our heritage on a level we did not expect.”

- Angela Prater (Mvskoke), Center of the Universe project workshop participant

“Maura’s teaching style is challenging, encouraging and elegant. She provided me with a space to explore my body’s limitations as well as it’s strengths. In just a few weeks many of the students in her class were commenting on how they felt that they were improving and how they felt that they were gaining stability and strength. No matter how challenging the moves or positions were, she was consistently motivating and would adjust according to the needs of the student.”
- Charlotte McCloskey (Lakota), Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist

"Another Community Day activity that drew a lot of interest was two different sessions of a "Moving to Art" workshop taught by dancer/choreographer Maura Garcia. Garcia explained that the workshop was an opportunity for people to explore ways to react physically to art.…Participant Kelly Agan of Carrboro said she had a great time at the workshop, and that it was a perfect way to make art more interactive.” 

- Lisa A. Young, The Herald-Sun CHAPEL HILL

"The artist residency was one-of-a-kind...the holistic approach to working with young artists in our AfterSchool Arts Immersion (AAI) program exceeded the standards we set for our teaching artists. Although the focus of the residency was creative movement, our AAI artists (ages 5-11) learned about dance as a form of resistance, the importance of meditation and ritual-building, and how to work as an artistic collective. AAI parents were particularly impressed by the “family sharing” performance concluding the residency. One parent called the performance a “great program that has helped open the eyes of our young artist and our family.” Another parent confirmed, “Excellent program! My daughter loved this program. She had a wonderful, enriching experience.” 

- Shirlette Ammons, former Childrens Arts Manager, The ArtsCenter

"Thank you so much for facilitating such an engaging and relevant workshop as part of the Ackland Art Museum's Heart of Progress Community Day...I appreciate your careful attention to the content and tenor of the exhibition... As a facilitator, you selected ways to acknowledge these aspects of the exhibition without letting it's serious nature overwhelm the workshop or negatively influence the participants enjoyment of the process...It was so wonderful to witness people of different ages in the galleries - many of whom had just met thirty minutes before - working together to create their own "working machine" and expressing such joy as they did." 

- Beth Shaw McGuire, Museum Educator