Exploration of the creative arts is a critical component to the learning process at CMLC.
We are very excited to be working with local artist, Biljana Banchotova, to offer weekly art programming. Each Monday, Biljana will focus on a different artistic avenue to explore with topics such as Visual Arts, Mindfulness, Movement and Sound, Functional Craft and the Dramatic Arts.
Join us for a full day of learning and art for $55, or $200 for the month.
Want to join us for an artistic Monday with Biljana?
Biljana Banchotova (Webb) is a visionary artist who explores her creative pursuits in multidisciplinary arts. She is mother of two inspiring children and creative founding director of Whirling Wisdom Art Creations Studio located on her land at SpiralGate of Art and Well-Being in Tory Hill, Ontario.
She was born in South Africa, by a Macedonian family who was raised in Europe. Biljana has pursued creative thinking ways in her early age; she developed herself through intuitive skills while soul journeying, painting, playing music, dancing, storytelling and now transferred her gifts in the healing arts. Her visionary art has reached international recognition with over 23 years of practice which include visual art/paintings, floor murals, stained glass, dream catchers; hand fastened instruments, drums, Didgeridoos, and outreach; with solo and group exhibitions, awards, and media and television recognition.
Receiver of the Traveling Grant for international solo exhibit from Toronto Arts Council, Biljana is also a commissioned artist of two fully illustrated children’s books, other cover story illustrations, and many spiritual portraits. While living in Toronto and practicing her arts for a decade, she was recognized by her peers and was accepted in the Artist Educator program by the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. After she completed the program she was soon upgraded to a Certified Lead Artist Educator in 2011, with emphasis on the Multicultural Arts and integrative presentations while teaching the multidisciplinary arts.
Her other expressive arts pursuits while living in Toronto were actively practicing percussion and sounding with the Toronto Tam-Tam group and Sunny-Side Drummers. Exploring dance with “Sweat Your Prayers”, the early “Move,” and led independent classes as “Spiral Dance” in the downtown location. When she got involved with the Native Canadian Centre, she took part in all of their programming for over 12 years: Woman’s Hand Drumming & Medicine Songs, Big Drum Social and Dances, Native Crafts, Storytelling and Ceremony. Here she met many of her Elders and learned of the Native Spirituality first hand. Soon she was invited to practice the Ceremonial Aztec Dances and by the Mayan Elders to learn of their sacred fire and cosmology.
While she was simultaneously practicing the arts and raising her first born, Justin Stonkus, in 1999, she integrated her practices as part of life and being involved in his education. In his early age she registered independent “I Care-Day Care ” 2001-2005 and explored early age care with Waldorf Education in a home setting. After that she was accepted to go in at the Runnymede Public School as volunteer artist educator, where she led children from Kindergarten to Grade 6 with art explorations, dance, storytelling and Visionary Gardening. In 2009, she established a Peace Garden at the school and brought in the International School Peace Gardens for an opening ceremony, which opened doors to hundreds of Mexican children and Runnymede Public School children through anonymous art letter exchange and a great success!
Her call for sustainable living and communing with the land, drew her to settle in Highlands East, were she gave birth to Shsashwananeka Lili Banchotova, in 2013 and continues to strive in a creative Homesteading environment; while sharing her gifts and experiences with the community. She is a host and practitioner of many art workshops, events and spirited celebrations, as well as, the founder of the local “Frog Hollow Integrative Arts Experience.” Biljana also has affiliations with events at the Rails End Gallery, The Kinmount Artisans, volunteer artist at the Stuart Baker Elementary School and has been a sponsored Artist Educator for Community Project Workshops by the Haliburton Arts Council.