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Upcoming Create Nights (Free to Register!)

Create Nights – “Go with the Flow: Poi” Moderated by Rob Stenzel | Wednesday 7/30| 7pm-9pm

Get into the Flow of summer with the first of two Flow Toy making workshops. Poi spinning is a form of performance art and dance created by the indigenous Maori of New Zealand, which has been adopted by the modern flow arts community. Poi spinning has many physical and mental

benefits, and is just fun! In this workshop you will make your own set of practice poi to take home and impress your friends with, and we will go over spinning basics and maybe even learn a trick or two!

Create Nights – “Go with the Flow: Hooping” Moderated by Rob Stenzel | Wednesday 8/20| 7pm-9pm

Keep flowing into summer with the second half of this flow arts series. Hooping started as a viral sensation in the 1950’s, and never stopped twirling. Today hoops are used for more than fun and fitness, and have become a staple prop of flow and circus performance. Start your own flow

journey with this workshop where you will learn how to build your own custom hoops. They are so fun and easy you won’t want to stop at just one! After the build we’ll have our own hooping dance party where you will learn how to use your new prop.

About the Instructor: Robert Stenzel

Humans use REM sleep as a way to process their emotions, evoking vivid dream imagery. This stream of consciousness is what I attempt to capture in my work, while using my artistic process as a form of emotional catharsis.

Based in Ronkonkoma, NY, I am a multidisciplinary artist and curator with a focus on papercutting, small metals, and fiber arts, influenced by my apprenticeship under master papercutter Hou-Tien Cheng and my BFA from Cal Poly Humboldt. My work often reflects dream imagery, capturing the subconscious through fabric dreamscapes, painting, and paper mache, while recently expanding into stop motion animation and interactive performance art.

As a member of the LGBTQ community this program speaks to me on a deeper level as part of my own body of work revolves around processing my gender identity and LGBTQ awareness. I was lucky to have the opportunity to attend various free workshops that helped me embrace my queer culture as a younger person, such as seeing Leslie Feinberg speak and Drag 101, which ultimately helped me figure out who I was. The passion is to create a safe, inclusive space for others to explore and express themselves. My teaching philosophy embraces a holistic approach, tailoring lessons to individual students and fostering an ergonomic, supportive environment where they can grow creatively and confidently. With experience teaching all ages and abilities, I aim to inspire and nurture each student’s unique artistic journey.