Upcoming Pop-Up Classes:
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Contemplative Photography: Developing Curiosity
Sundays, July 13 and 20, 2025 from 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 it is raining) 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 appreciated but not required. Contact Maryellen Sullivan if you have questions or wish to RSVP. maryellensullivan802@gmail.com or 802.696.8042 (call or text). All levels welcome!
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.
Write Your Own Obituary!
(What could be more fun?!?)
Please join me on Friday, July 25th, 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!
Polyamory: What Is It Really?
(Hint: It’s probably not what you think!)
Thursday, July 17th 2025, 6 - 8p
Join us for a lively and thought-provoking conversation about polyamory—what it is, what it isn’t, and the many misconceptions surrounding it. At its core, polyamory means "many loves," but what does this look like in practice? Moreover, what does a healthy relationship look like in practice? We believe one’s relationship preferences are a personal journey, and our goal is to leave you wondering about yourself and how you want to be in relationship.
This is more of a dialogue than a class, although there is no pressure to share; listening is key. There is a class every month, come to one or come to all. The interests of the group will guide our discussion. This month, we’ll be talking about what polyamory means to you. We all have different perspectives on what open, healthy relationships look like and what we want for ourselves. Let’s talk about it!
Expect an insightful, fun, and lighthearted class that fosters curiosity and encourages open dialogue. We’ll also share book recommendations and leave you with even more to think about.
Please sign up here or email us with questions.
Sound Healing
July 26th 2025 9-10am
This is an opportunity for deep relaxation, open to anyone looking to experience the healing vibrations of sound. Enjoy the melody of crystal lined sound bowls interwoven with music designed to soothe your nervous system, all while sitting or laying on a comfortable mat. Donation range $10-20.
Death Cafe
Friday, September 5th 2025, 6- 8p
Let’s talk about death—over tea and cake.
Death is one of the few certainties in life, yet it’s often the hardest thing to talk about. At Death Café, we create a welcoming space for open, honest conversations about death, dying, and what it means to truly live. There’s no agenda, no objectives, and no pressure—just a relaxed discussion where people can share thoughts, listen, and reflect in a respectful and confidential setting.
This is not a grief support group or counseling session. It’s a chance to explore one of life’s biggest topics in a way that encourages awareness, connection, and curiosity. And yes, there will be cake.
Come as you are, bring an open mind, and let’s talk.
Please sign up here or email Maggie Mae with questions.
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.