{photo credit: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens]
The delicate blush of cherry blossoms will frame an intimate creative retreat at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, welcoming creative types into a two-hour journey of reflective writing and intuitive collage, designed to unlock personal insight through art and nature.
Titled Restore + Explore: The Many Faces of Love, the Feb. 23 workshop is the latest installment in The Huntington’s Restore + Explore series. Designed as a sensory and creative experience, the event invites attendees to first wander through the gardens, immersing themselves in the visual and emotional language of their surroundings, before putting pen to paper in a guided writing session. The final step brings them back to the classroom, where they will transform their reflections into evocative collages—pieces that mirror the inner landscapes of their thoughts and emotions, serving as a springboard for further journaling and deepening their connection to the theme.
Leading this creative exploration will be Kimberly Lee, J.D., a writer, editor and creativity coach, and Victoria Clayton, M.A., an award-winning journalist and fiction writer. Both bring a wealth of experience in guiding participants through the intersection of writing, art and self-discovery. Lee, a Stanford University graduate, is also a certified Guided Autobiography, SoulCollage® and Journal to the Self® facilitator. She has led workshops at literary centers and retreats such as the Omega Institute and the Expressive Therapies Summit. Clayton, whose work has appeared in The Guardian, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post, has taught at California Lutheran University and worked as a writer and editor for academic institutions and nonprofits. She is an active member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors.
“Few things speak the language of love as eloquently as cherry blossoms,” notes the event’s description. That sentiment serves as both a visual and thematic guidepost, encouraging participants to explore the fluid, multifaceted nature of love—romantic, platonic, familial and self-directed—through their writing and artwork.
A hallmark of the Restore + Explore series is its focus on mindfulness as a creative catalyst. By anchoring artistic expression in the sensory experiences of nature, participants are encouraged to slow down, observe and translate those observations into words and images. The result is a layered, introspective approach to creativity, where the garden serves as both a canvas and a wellspring of inspiration. Back in the classroom, the collage-making portion will allow participants to visually process and interpret their reflections, with their finished pieces serving as an ongoing source of insight and self-exploration.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, long a cultural and artistic hub in Southern California, continues to provide dynamic programming that blends education, nature and the arts. With its sprawling 120 acres of gardens, the venue is an ideal backdrop for an experience that is as meditative as it is expressive.
The workshop is open to all levels of artistic and writing experience, making it accessible to both seasoned creatives and those new to expressive art practices. Advance registration is required, as tickets are not available at the door. A waitlist is available for those who wish to attend if spots become available. Participants are encouraged to bring an open mind and a willingness to explore their creativity in a supportive and inspiring environment.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA. (626) 405-2100. More information at huntington.org.
