Marcy LaBella
Flora Bowley at the Omega Center
Updated: Nov 16, 2021
I had a wonderful art retreat at the Omega center in Rhinebeck, NY with teaching artist Flora Bowley who’s work I’ve admired for a long time.

This workshop combined art, introspective journaling and movement exercises. It was based on her book The Art of Aliveness. I met a lot of amazing people and it was wonderful to immerse in process for a full five days.
The grounds at Omega are gorgeous and peaceful and the perfect place to relax and unplug. The meals are mostly vegetarian and cooked fresh three times a day. I went with no expectations yet found that much of the material and work
followed a similar thread to what I have been doing in my own work and what I have been writing about recently. I think the pandemic has made lots of people think about letting go of things that no longer serve them and really trying to figure out that what is most important.
Lots of the work was collaborative and served to give up control and allow the process to just happen. We also had laughs, wrote poetry, had a wonderful sound healer and made so many new connections.
An over all wonderful experience in the fall in the north east.
