Arts Cafe Response piece

This piece of artwork was a response piece created during an Arts Cafe during my Orientation at Lesley University. There were no directions or limitations, other then it need to be ready to exhibit the following day.

Process:
I started by choosing my materials. I decided to limit them to a piece of poster board 24" x 24" and markers due to space constraints. I sat on the floor in the back of the room, which was set up with a stage for performers. I began thinking, but before I could get catch up in an idea music began. And then performers of poems, music and dance began. I thought about the body parts needed to perform and began tracing my legs and hands. Then I created a mouth and finger tips. Then patterns began emerging and filling up the forms. Finally I became too engaged and stopped this piece and was able to perform a haiku.

Notes:
It's an incredible experience to be in a creative atmosphere surrounded by others creating. I find this truly inspiring, uplifting and freeing. I wonder how I will be able to create this environment for my clients and myself.

Balance Piece

Above is a picture of a mandala I created during Orientation for the graduate program in art therapy at Lesley.

Directive:
Create an image of balance.
Time limit 30 min.
Setting: Outside up a large tent with other art therapists.

While this could of been accomplished many different ways I went with the trusted process of making a mandala. I have used mandala making with adolescent children and the process did seem to calm them down from my observations.

I began this process with 2 objects that I found: a piece of foam and a cup lid. Just as in I offend do in my regular art making, I like to begin with an object to make an object. Perhaps it is the sculpture in me. Next I decided I needed to define the outer circle, so I found a bucket, traced the large white circle and began assembling on top of it. Then came the smaller orange circle. Finally the found objects where put in the center and then the flower element cut out and glued on top.

The following day the group of art therapists were asked to perform in some way at the closing of orientation. As a group we choose to wear our artwork and lead the group back to a gallery area where more of our artwork was displayed. For this I added a string long enough to go around my neck and I wore my mandala.

Below is a group photo of all of the new art therapists coming in this year and our art "gallery" space.

Bird Skull

Above photo of an object I made in clay.

Directive:
Create an object in clay that represents your feelings about being at Orientation
Time: 30 min. for clay, 10 min. for writing, 10min. for sharing
Setting: Outside in group setting with other art therapists

Process:
The process began with a guided meditation. We were encouraged to remain present and think about nature, our current environment and what it meant to be there at orientation. I remember hearing birds chirping while our professor lead us through the meditation portion. When that was over we were allowed to find aspace to create. I stayed in my seat for the first 15 min. and then ventured a bit further. I used water toward the end to help smooth out some areas.

After the 30 mins. were up we rejoined a group setting and were instructed to write about the experience. This intermodal transfer from scultping to writing was a great experience to explore some thoughts I had.

Lastly, we were allowed to comment on the process in a group setting facilitated by the professor.

Self Box

Above: Front of Self Box

Above: Back of Self Box

Above: Inside of Self Box

Above are three different views of my self box.

Directive:
Create a Self Box. Refer to the article "Secrets, symbols, synthesis and safety: The role of boxes in art therapy" by Farrell-Kirk, R. (2001) in the American Journal of Art Therapy, issue 39 p. 88-92
Time Limit: an afternoon in class time and 1 day following.
Setting: Art Therapy Class (Practices and Principles of Art Therapy)

Process:
There are many ideas about boxes and even self boxes. For this one I considered the inside of the box as the inside of my body. The outside of the box as the exterior which is seen and represented to the world. On both sides of my box I choose to represent an archetype of an image that I think people often see me as. The front I choose to represent the way in which I represent myself to the world, while the back holds images and ideas that are actually mine and may not be shown to the world.