With a grant from the Charlottesville, Virginia Sister Cities Commission, the Lewis & Clark Exploratory Center hosted several journaling workshops for people in our commmunity who had visited our sister cities: Winneba, Ghana; Poggio a Caiano, Italy; and Besancon, France. These included people on official delegations, as well as people who had gone on their own. Keeping journals was a big part of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, and we encourage journaling and mapmaking in many forms, both digital, and on paper.

Our workshops began with a slide show of journals from history and from the present day, and then continued with a writing prompt exercise. Afterwards, we taught specific skills in watercoloring, giving shading and tonal exercises and demonstrations of various types of brushes.

People were eager to share their wonderful experiences in the Sister Cities! Here is a part of our Sister City Gallery, for you to enjoy…