ENGAGING CONVERSATIONS
Virtual GATHERINGS
CREATIVE COMMUNITY
How does creativity help us heal from addictive behaviors?
How can we create from a productive rather than a destructive place?
In what ways can art-making further our growth and connection in recovery?
Launches Friday, August 7th
During these times we are being called upon to find creative ways to adapt, heal from addiction, grief and trauma, and envision a new world. This requires imagination and moving away from limiting mindsets and behaviors.
Music, painting, dance, poetry, film, theater, comedy and other forms of creative expression are the lifeblood of our communities. Let’s create together and expand our capacity to thrive as we recover.
The Creative High Inspiration Series is for…
- People in recovery from addiction who want to find their creative voice and access the power of the arts
- Artists in recovery who want to connect with like-minded souls and continue thriving in art and life
- Creatives who are struggling with their addictive behaviors and seeking inspiration to move into recovery
- Mental health professionals, educators, and anyone who wants to increase their knowledge on the topic of addiction and recovery from a creative lens
You are welcome here. The Creative High practices inclusion across race, age, and identity. We stand in support of Black artists, artists of color, and creatives in the LGBTQIA community. We honor the fundamental values and dignity of all individuals to gain access to recovery and mental health, and believe that everyone is creative.
Zoom Gatherings (11am – 1pm PST / 1 – 3pm CST / 2 – 4pm EST)
Friday, August 7th: Opening Gathering and Creative Workshop
Friday, August 14th: Panel Discussion with Leaders in Recovery
Friday, August 21st: Story and Voice Interactive Workshop
(Can’t make it live? You’ll get access and receive the recordings!)
Reserve your place in this powerful community!
Get Access = $25
All access pass to interviews, live virtual gatherings, and community
Get Access + Donation = $75
All access pass + $50 donation to fund film’s color correction
Get Access + Donation = $125
All access pass + $100 donation to fund film’s sound mix
Donations from this series will provide funds to complete The Creative High, a documentary film about creativity in recovery, which is in the final stage of post-production.
5% of the proceeds will go to Hip Hop for Change (www.hiphopforchange.org/)
Host and Interviewer:
Adriana Marchione
Adriana Marchione MA, REAT, RSMT, Director has been involved in the arts for over thirty years as a filmmaker, dancer, photographer and is internationally recognized in her work as a movement-based expressive arts therapist and educator. Since 2002, Marchione has taught and directed programs at Tamalpa Institute, California Institute of Integral Studies, WHEAT Institute in Canada and founded her own wellness center in San Francisco. She has presented her creative healing approach with a focus on addiction, eating disorders, trauma and grief, at festivals, conferences, and treatment centers including South by Southwest, Studio le théâtre du Corps in Paris, Ohlhoff Recovery Program and La Ventana Eating Disorder Program. www.adrianamarchione.com
Co-Hosts:
Dianne Griffin
Dianne Griffin is an award-winning international filmmaker based in San Francisco, California. Dianne’s thirty years of documentary work is a doorway into how she looks at the world which has been deeply influenced by Zen Buddhism, a recovery practice and the people around her. Dianne’s documentaries have screened at film festivals world-wide, broadcast nationwide on PBS, theatrically and on streaming platforms. Dianne’s documentary Painted Nails 2017, follows Van Nguyen, a Vietnamese salon owner and her life-changing journey, premiering to standing ovations and sold out shows. Actively involved in the documentary film community, Dianne Griffin teaches documentary filmmaking including crowd-funding and social media marketing. www.diannegriffin.com
Shelley Richanbach
Shelley Richanbach, CADC, Associate Producer is a certified drug and alcohol counselor and an expressive arts educator. She brings dance and the arts to her students and clients with a special focus on addiction/recovery. Shelley founded Next Steps for Women in 2010 and helped to create and establish one of the first Recovery Community Organizations (RCO) in California, Voices of Recovery San Mateo County, in 2009. For over a decade Shelley has led expressive arts workshops, environmental arts and play programs. www.nextstepsforwomen.com
The Interviews:
Alonzo Bodden
Finding The Funny
Alonzo Bodden is a stand-up comedian who won Season 3 on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, is a regular on NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” and “Comedy Congress,” as well as being a panelist on the Game Show Network’s “Mind of a Man.” Alonzo has made the rounds on the late-night television circuit including appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” and “The Keenen Ivory Wayans” show. His film credits include “Scary Movie 4,” “The Girl Next Door,” and “Bringing Down the House” starring Steve Martin and Queen Latifah. Bodden wouldn’t have found comedy without sobriety, as it changed his sense of humor. He’s a contributor to the Drug Courts of America and has a weekly podcast called ‘Who’s Paying Attention’. www.alonzobodden.com
Billy Morrison
Behind the Facade
Billy Morrison is a rock guitarist, fine art painter, actor and philanthropist who hails from the United Kingdom, but has made his home in Los Angeles for over 20 years now. His success as a member of Billy Idol’s band, a founding member of All-Star band Royal Machines, and his time in The Cult gave him a platform to begin painting and he has turned his love of fine art into a life-saving creative outlet for himself. For the past few years, Billy has used canvas and paint to express many feelings and emotions and cites the process as one of the important and daily tools he uses to keep his mental health in check. A heroin and cocaine addict for over 15 years, Morrison is now 25 years clean and sober and continues to aspire to new levels of clarity, focus and success through many different areas of The Arts. billymorrisonart.com Instagram: @BillyMorrisonOfficial and @BillyMorrisonFineArt.
Joshua Grannell (aka Peaches Christ)
Channeling Insanity
Joshua Grannell aka Peaches Christ is a filmmaker and cult leader living in San Francisco. Her infamous movie events are self-produced at the Castro Theatre and regularly draw over 1,000 attendees to each new production before they tour. Events have featured special guest stars John Waters, Cloris Leachman, Bruce Campbell, Barry Bostwick, Pam Grier, and more. Peaches is the alter- ego of Joshua Grannell, the writer and director of the feature film All About Evil. The award-winning dark comedy gore film stars Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Dekker, Cassandra Peterson, Mink Stole, and Peaches Christ herself. Peaches Christ has been featured in the films Milk, I Am Divine, Diary Of A Teenage Girl, Mansfield 66/67, Scream Queen: My Nightmare On Elm Street, You Don’t Nomi and more.
Instagram @thepeacheschrist
Facebook: facebook.com/peacheschrist
Kerensa DeMars
Surrender in Creative Practice
Kerensa DeMars is a Flamenco dancer and choreographer known for her unique synthesis of Flamenco and Middle Eastern dance styles. She has performed internationally at venues including London’s Royal Festival Hall, the Teatro Calderón of Madrid, the Tivoli Theater in Barcelona and San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The founding director of the San Francisco Flamenco Dance Company, Kerensa lived in Spain from 1997-2004 where she trained intensively in Flamenco dance with Spain’s foremost artists. Kerensa is the recipient of several major choreography commissions and has presented her work in Madrid, San Francisco, London, Barcelona and Paris. She approaches creative practice from a spiritually grounded perspective with a focus on growth, healing and expansion. www.kerensademars.com
Khafre Jay
From Adversity to Activist
Khafre Jay is one of the hardest working activists the Bay Area has produced. Hailing from Hunters Point San Francisco, Khafre Jay grew up seeing first hand how injustices in this country can bring down people of color and he’s dedicated his life to lifting up those people fighting so hard for equality and social justice. That work is best seen in his founding of Hip Hop For Change. A revolutionary 501c3 focused on building a base of self-determination for Hip Hop culture and Hip Hop expression, for and by the people! As a performing artist, Khafre has shared the stage with world-class acts such as Rakim, Method Man, Dead Prez, Hieroglyphics, The Pharcyde, Talib Kweli and many more. www.khafrejay.com
Reema Zaman
The Voice is a Revolution
Reema Zaman is an award-winning writer, speaker, actress, and author of the critically acclaimed memoir I AM YOURS. As a recovered anorexic and a rape survivor, she addresses taboo subjects such as domestic violence, self-harm, and her continued choice to abstain from alcohol. Reema was the 2018 Oregon Literary Arts’ Writer of Color Fellow and is currently partnering with the International Rescue Committee and Girls Inc. to serve crucial causes and empower the next generation of leaders. She is credited with coining the term “immigrant abuse” and has joined forces with the nation’s leading advocacy organizations to advocate for change in policies that impact immigrants and survivors of abuse. Currently, she is writing a dystopian novel, PARAMITA. www.reemazaman.com
Shiloh Sophia
Rocking Inner Wildness
Shiloh Sophia lives life as a great adventure narrated by the creative fire of her Muse! For the past 25 years, she has dedicated her life to the belief that self-expression is a basic human right and shares her message with tens of thousands around the world through her revolutionary education, focused on art as a pathway to healing and transformation called Intentional Creativity®. She is the Curator and Co-founder of MUSEA: Center for Intentional Creativity®, with locations in Sonoma and around the world. “I believe making art with intention combines the best of healing and recovery through science, embodiment and mindfulness”. Most mornings she can be found having tea with her Muse, pouring over quantum physics and sacred texts in the Red Thread Cafe with her husband Jonathan. www.shilohsophia.com or www.musea.org
Tawny Lara
Writing as Catharsis
Tawny Lara is an NYC-based writer who covers all things sex, sobriety, and rock n roll. She’s even been dubbed The Sober Sexpert. Tawny’s words have been published in Playboy, Men’s Health, Huffington Post, The Temper, Audiofemme, SheSaid, and more. Tawny has shared her recovery story on stages all across the world: IOGT World Congress, New York State Recovery Conference, United Federation of Teachers, and more. In addition to writing and public speaking, she’s the founder of the Readings on Recovery™ reading series and SobrieTea Party™, co-host of Recovery Rocks podcast with Lisa Smith, charity volunteer with Road Recovery, and an award-winning filmmaker of the recovery documentary, Fixed Up. www.tawnylara.com
Reserve your place in this powerful community!
Get Access = $25
All access pass to interviews, live virtual gatherings, and community
Get Access + Donation = $75
All access pass + $50 donation to fund film’s color correction
Get Access + Donation = $125
All access pass + $100 donation to fund film’s sound mix
Donations from this series will provide funds to complete The Creative High, a documentary film about creativity in recovery, which is in the final stage of post-production.
5% of the proceeds will go to Hip Hop for Change (www.hiphopforchange.org/)
The Gatherings:
Opening Gathering: Living Art – Imagine, Create, Connect
Friday, August 7, 2020 from 11AM – 1PM PST / 1 – 3PM CST / 2 – 4PM EST (on Zoom)
Join us for the series lift off with flamenco dance by Kerensa DeMars, and music from the UK’s New Note, the first recovery orchestra in the world. This will be followed by a creative exploration with Master Teacher and Director, Adriana Marchione and Expressive Arts Educator and Recovery Advocate, Shelley Richanbach. Cultivating community and self-reflection with the tools of poetry, drawing, movement and writing, this class is for any age and every ‘body’.
New Note Orchestra, UK’s Recovery Orchestra
Kerensa DeMars, Flamenco Dancer and Choreographer
Panel Discussion: Building Authentic Community through Creativity
Friday, August 14, 2020 from 11AM – 1PM PST / 1 – 3PM CST / 2 – 4PM EST (on Zoom)
This event will feature a powerhouse line-up of recovery artists and advocates and will dive into inspiration and provocative topics surrounding how creativity supports recovery and mental health.
Special Features: Music by Lazarus Nance Letcher and Chris Marshall of Sans Bar will walk us through the creation of one of his bespoke zero proof cocktails!
Moderators
Panelists
Closing Gathering: Recovering our Voice, Telling Our Stories
Friday, August 21, 2020 from 11AM – 1PM PST / 1 – 3PM CST / 2 – 4PM EST (on Zoom)
We will close this exciting series with an interactive workshop with world-renowned leadership speaking coach Lee Glickstein and award-winning documentarian, Dianne Griffin. This session will provide the opportunity to soulfully listen to each other, unfold our stories and explore a creative way to express our truth. The key to fully recover our authentic voice is to uncover what it means to “speak into the listening.” Closing ceremony will include music and dance by New Note Orchestra.
Reserve your place in this powerful community!
Get Access = $25
All access pass to interviews, live virtual gatherings, and community
Get Access + Donation = $75
All access pass + $50 donation to fund film’s color correction
Get Access + Donation = $125
All access pass + $100 donation to fund film’s sound mix
Donations from this series will provide funds to complete The Creative High, a documentary film about creativity in recovery, which is in the final stage of post-production.
5% of the proceeds will go to Hip Hop for Change (www.hiphopforchange.org/)
Our Sponsors:
Our Partners:
Reserve your place in this powerful community!
Get Access = $25
All access pass to interviews, live virtual gatherings, and community
Get Access + Donation = $75
All access pass + $50 donation to fund film’s color correction
Get Access + Donation = $125
All access pass + $100 donation to fund film’s sound mix
Donations from this series will provide funds to complete The Creative High, a documentary film about creativity in recovery, which is in the final stage of post-production.
5% of the proceeds will go to Hip Hop for Change (www.hiphopforchange.org/)
QUESTIONS? Contact: thecreativehighfilm@gmail.com