Community Arts can be used in multiple ways and in almost any setting. I am pleased to collaborate with organizations or individual to create a unique curriculum. I bring years of experience and a variety of art techniques to meet clients where they are: be it home, medical facility, assisted living establishment or wellness organization. Whether individual counseling or multi-participant workshop, my community arts facilitation encourages wellness through the impetus of creativity.
Art for a Cause
In recent years, community arts has made the news as one impressive art piece — the AIDS Memorial Quilt — increased awareness of this indiscriminatory disease: its victims and their families and friends. Communities from all over the world worked together to bring awareness and to show support for those they had lost and those still in treatment. This beautiful art piece portrayed an expression of grief and tribute, while still conveying a call to action. And I can only imagine, it evoked peace and satisfaction to those who contributed to its creation. As the AIDS Quilt was a super cause that garnered world-wide attention, there are also local causes, familial causes, organizational causes that could benefit from a similar type of art project. I would love to collaborate with your community to create a unique expression of your purpose.
The Elders
I offer a program for communities and individuals that exercises the mind, as well as the imagination. In communities, I bring a group experience where all are welcomed and encouraged at every level. One-on-one, I offer focused support and dementia-friendly art projects to those with dementia, as well as, their care partners. I also offer programs to teach my techniques and methods. I have witnessed clients experience a lasting joy and sense of accomplishment when collaborating on creative art pieces. Even their family members comment on the difference in their attitudes.
Michael Samuels, M.D. (co-founder of Art as a Healing Force): "There has been new exciting research about art and Alzheimer's that sheds light on this remarkable way of healing. Music and art stimulate areas of the brain not affected by Alzheimer's and accesses memories through routes that avoid affected language centers. Art actually helps the brain navigate new neurological communication pathways. Any art...will open a huge new way of healing."
Mental and Emotional Well-being
Creativity empowers, and helps to shift long held beliefs and issues. Through guided art explorations and mindful intentions, the creative arts release mental and emotional burdens. One client said of the expressive/creative arts process: "A deeply troubling issue in my life cleared on a fundamental level, as if a healing balm had been applied to the psychic wound. I still live with the memories, but the burden and overbearing weight of the issue lifted."
Cancer and Physical Ailments
While curing is the goal for all ill health, healing is the quest — the process. Coping with the aspect of an unfavorable health diagnosis can cause emotional shifts that are challenging to handle with conventional means. Often an adverse diagnosis can be a harbinger for deeper issues and community arts offers a gentle pathway towards understanding. Creative art rituals can explore the obstacles, shifts the focus, opens the heart and clears the path for joy and contentment to be part of the experience — even with a current diagnosis. The act of creativity is remarkably empowering and reveals incredible insights to support the journey ahead.
I offer several workshops that catalyze healing expression on universal themes such as self-discovery, pattern-shifting, personal empowerment to name a few. Or I can customize an art program to suit an individual session. I can also design a special art ritual to celebrate, release or embrace a current life event (such as birthdays, etc). I can also customize curriculum for your organization or group.
Any small group would benefit from this creative exploration. It can be used for: celebrating a life event, social groups, memorials, book clubs, support groups, transforming illness – shifting from “victim of” to “creator of”, team building for organizations, to name a few.
Please click to access a menu of some of my current offerings.
Art for a Cause
In recent years, community arts has made the news as one impressive art piece — the AIDS Memorial Quilt — increased awareness of this indiscriminatory disease: its victims and their families and friends. Communities from all over the world worked together to bring awareness and to show support for those they had lost and those still in treatment. This beautiful art piece portrayed an expression of grief and tribute, while still conveying a call to action. And I can only imagine, it evoked peace and satisfaction to those who contributed to its creation. As the AIDS Quilt was a super cause that garnered world-wide attention, there are also local causes, familial causes, organizational causes that could benefit from a similar type of art project. I would love to collaborate with your community to create a unique expression of your purpose.
The Elders
I offer a program for communities and individuals that exercises the mind, as well as the imagination. In communities, I bring a group experience where all are welcomed and encouraged at every level. One-on-one, I offer focused support and dementia-friendly art projects to those with dementia, as well as, their care partners. I also offer programs to teach my techniques and methods. I have witnessed clients experience a lasting joy and sense of accomplishment when collaborating on creative art pieces. Even their family members comment on the difference in their attitudes.
Michael Samuels, M.D. (co-founder of Art as a Healing Force): "There has been new exciting research about art and Alzheimer's that sheds light on this remarkable way of healing. Music and art stimulate areas of the brain not affected by Alzheimer's and accesses memories through routes that avoid affected language centers. Art actually helps the brain navigate new neurological communication pathways. Any art...will open a huge new way of healing."
Mental and Emotional Well-being
Creativity empowers, and helps to shift long held beliefs and issues. Through guided art explorations and mindful intentions, the creative arts release mental and emotional burdens. One client said of the expressive/creative arts process: "A deeply troubling issue in my life cleared on a fundamental level, as if a healing balm had been applied to the psychic wound. I still live with the memories, but the burden and overbearing weight of the issue lifted."
Cancer and Physical Ailments
While curing is the goal for all ill health, healing is the quest — the process. Coping with the aspect of an unfavorable health diagnosis can cause emotional shifts that are challenging to handle with conventional means. Often an adverse diagnosis can be a harbinger for deeper issues and community arts offers a gentle pathway towards understanding. Creative art rituals can explore the obstacles, shifts the focus, opens the heart and clears the path for joy and contentment to be part of the experience — even with a current diagnosis. The act of creativity is remarkably empowering and reveals incredible insights to support the journey ahead.
I offer several workshops that catalyze healing expression on universal themes such as self-discovery, pattern-shifting, personal empowerment to name a few. Or I can customize an art program to suit an individual session. I can also design a special art ritual to celebrate, release or embrace a current life event (such as birthdays, etc). I can also customize curriculum for your organization or group.
Any small group would benefit from this creative exploration. It can be used for: celebrating a life event, social groups, memorials, book clubs, support groups, transforming illness – shifting from “victim of” to “creator of”, team building for organizations, to name a few.
Please click to access a menu of some of my current offerings.