It is always special to be in a learning community with people who appreciate, support and challenge each other.
Art Therapists Kathy Simones, Bill Schwartz, Fabia D'Amore-Krug, and Erica Clifford were able to meet again to attend a very enriching and informative conference in St. Louis.
Dr. Patricia Isis lead "Art Therapy: Creative Art Interventions for Challenging Children Who Act Out, Melt Down or Shutdown". Dr. Isis guided the audience of mental health professional and educators in improving skills of mindfulness and integrating art interventions in their practice. Through theory and hands-on activities, the participants were able to share and enrich their therapeutic and educational toolboxes.
This is a photo of the foil sculptures created in a guided mindfulness experiential lead by Dr. Isis.
After discussing and exploring realities about how each member feels in that moment, each participant was asked to use the limited supplies (three sheets of tin foil and a pipe cleaner) to create a figure that depicts themselves when they feel at their best. At the end of the training, all of the participants set up their images in a make-shift gallery. Time was given for everyone to explore the mini exhibits displayed around the room. The audience was encouraged to write brief responses to any of the art images that they felt a connection to.
The 2017-2018 Alton School District art therapists were seated together so decided to incorporate their images as an interactive sculpture. The comments you see on this image are the anonymous responses that were left by conference participants in response to our image.
