Upcoming Pop-Up Classes:
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Contemplative Photography: Developing Curiosity
Saturday, November 1st and 8th, 2025
10 a.m. - noon
In this class, we will explore the fundamentals of photographic composition through the lens of curiosity and mindfulness. This class invites you to slow down, observe deeply, and engage with the world around you in a more intentional way. You’ll learn how curiosity can inform and enrich your photographic practice, helping you see everyday subjects with fresh eyes. We’ll spend some time outside (or inside if the weather is inclement) taking photos. Please come with a working knowledge of your camera or smartphone, as this is not a how-to-use-your-camera class.
Sliding scale: $0-25 per class
Instructor: Maryellen Sullivan
RSVP required. Contact Maryellen Sullivan if you have questions or to RSVP.
maryellensullivan802@gmail.com or 802.696.8042 (call or text).
All levels welcome!
Testimonials
“I have always loved capturing images; however, I mindlessly got into the ‘point and shoot’ habit which left me feeling discontented and uninspired. I was seeking another approach and Maryellen’s Mindfulness Photography Workshop exceeded my expectations. She discussed ‘training the mind to be curious and attentive, and following our instincts.’ This class is a ‘training for seeing and being.’ Since adopting these practices and integrating other pearls of wisdom Maryellen shared, my excitement for photography is returning.”
- Shoshana
“Maryellen’s photography workshop was a breath of fresh air—equal parts inspiring, grounding, and creatively energizing. Her patient and clear instruction helped me slow down, tune into my surroundings, and truly see the world through a more mindful lens. I loved how the practice of observation and presence was seamlessly woven into the act of taking photos. It was immensely relaxing, and I walked away with shots I never would have noticed before. Maryellen’s own talent as a photographer added so much depth—she not only guided us in mindfulness but also spoke beautifully to the artistic elements of photography. A truly enriching experience.”
- Deb
About Maryellen
Maryellen Sullivan is a painter and photographer based in Stowe, Vermont. Originally from New Jersey, she spent many years in New York pursuing higher education and a career in law before relocating to Vermont in 2005 with her husband, Bob Fahey. After practicing law for many years, Maryellen turned her focus to the arts, discovering a deep passion for creative expression.
Her entry into the world of visual art began about a decade ago with a watercolor class taught by renowned Stowe artist, Lisa Beach. Since then, Maryellen has immersed herself in extensive study through classes, workshops, and private lessons, and for the past three years, she has worked closely with Dianne Mize, a distinguished artist and educator based in northeast Georgia.
Maryellen’s artistic practice spans watercolor, acrylics, digital art, and photography. Deeply influenced by the Abstract Expressionist movement, her work explores color as both an aesthetic and intellectual pursuit.
In addition to her studio work, Maryellen has found joy and fulfillment in teaching. For the past four years, she has taught watercolor and acrylic painting to fourth grade students at the Cutillo Homeschool in Pottstown, PA, via Zoom. Her love of teaching, first cultivated during her legal career, now finds vibrant new expression in the arts.
Outside the studio, Maryellen enjoys spending time with her husband and their two dogs, playing tennis, practicing yoga and mindfulness meditation, traveling, writing, reading, and relaxing in a hammock on her front porch.
on hold
Write Your Own Obituary!
(What could be more fun?!?)
Please join me for a unique and meaningful 90 minute workshop where we’ll explore our own mortality—by writing our own obituaries.
We’ll begin with a bit of gentle movement (inspired by yoga and Qi Gong) to get the blood flowing and spark our creativity. Afterward, we’ll settle in for a guided meditation on death, inviting us to gently and peacefully contemplate the reality of our own mortality. Then, you’ll have quiet time to craft your own obituary—writing about the life you’ve lived, the mark you hope to leave, and what you’d like others to remember. We’ll wrap up with a heartfelt dialogue and the opportunity for anyone who feels called to share their reflections.
It’s often said that those who contemplate their own deaths live richer, more authentic lives. This is your invitation to step into a welcoming, supportive space and face a subject most of us, ironically, spend our lives avoiding. Come with an open mind and a lightness in your heart, ready to approach this with curiosity, creativity, and maybe even a little laughter.
Where: Love University, 46 S. Main Street, 2nd Floor, Waterbury, VT
When: Friday, July 25th, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Parking: Limited parking in the lot; additional street parking available
Cost: Sliding scale: $10–$40 (pay what you can)
What to Bring: A journal or notebook and your favorite pen
Questions: Email Maggie Mae at maggiemaeloveu@gmail.com
Pre-registration is encouraged to save your spot, but drop-ins are also welcome as space allows.
I hope to see you there!
Past Pop-Up Offerings:
Seasonal Affective Disorder:
Working with the Darker Days
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common experience in Vermont. We empathize with those of you who find this time of year extra challenging. In this two-hour workshop, we will move beyond tools, tips, and techniques (everyone already knows to take vitamin D and get a happy light) and explore how our perspectives shape our relationship with the darker, colder months.
Through dialogue, journaling, and storytelling, we’ll explore our beliefs and experiences of winter, inviting in the possibility of a perspective shift. Together, we’ll explore new ways of seeing and being, from childhood memories of snow play to honoring the slower pace of winter as nature’s invitation to pause, as well as discussing the hardships frequently experienced during the winter season.
Our hope is that you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how your beliefs influence your experience of winter and an openness to embracing this season with curiosity and compassion.
Blind Spots
Blind spots are conditioned ways we interact that become so normalized that we don’t see them. For example, I may have lived with anxiety for most of my life. Because the anxiety became a part of my day-to-day existence, I didn’t see it anymore. Without knowing it, I would project my anxiety onto my relationships and blame others for making me feel unsafe. By building awareness of this blind spot I can begin to take ownership of it, stop reacting to it, and begin to understand what the anxiety is and potentially let it go.
In this class, we will dive into…
How and why blind spots develop.
Normalization, conditioning, and adaptation to dysfunctional family and educational systems.
How blind spots can create unintentional harm to oneself and others.
How power and hierarchy impact relational dynamics and how this relates to blind spots.
The power of awareness in seeing and letting go of blind spots.
How communication and dialogue can help bring light to blind spots in a non-threatening way.