Recently in our AH/HON 4840_8 class the topic presented was Art and Healing: Transforming the Individual. The evenings presentation covered what the process entails and its history. Holy Feen, a licensed Art Therapist, and Grace Serra, who has worked at Children’s Hospital, were the two speakers. Both shared their first hand experiences with the process. From their accounts the process has been proven to be important in the overall healing and recovering of the individual.
It is my personal opinion that art is necessary to feel fulfilled in life. Not everyone expresses their art and creativity in conventional ways. Planting a garden, preparing a meal, tinkering on a car, etc. is away of putting your artistic spin on creating something new. The following are a few inspiring quotes on art and creativity.
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”~ Mary Lou Cook
"To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.” ~Osho
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ~ Maya Angelou
I am so excited! I worked up the courage to ask Ryan Farish if I could use his music 'Full Sail' for my PSA and he said he would be honored to have his music used for such a worthy cause!
I must explain that my PSA (Public Service Announcement) is for Organ Donation. The project came about in my Wayne State University class, 'Writing for Television and Radio'. I came up with an idea for a script, and recorded the announcement (with the help of my good friend Alonso del Arte) and shared it with my Professor.
I also shared the Ryan Farish's video for 'Full Sail' as a possible accompaniment to the announcement. Professor Nicholas Schlegel, who had been editing and assisting me in the project, agreed that the music was a perfect fit.
Now after getting the okay from Ryan Farish I have some work to do, and I am very excited. I must now combine the music with the vocal announcement and include an acknowledge of Farish as the creator of the music. I am truly grateful for such a talent composer to allow me to use his music. To hear more of his songs click here. For more information on Ryan Farish and where to purchase his music please click on the hyperlinks/highlighted words.
As a group, we are making some progress with our Obama Project at Mariners Inn. The atmosphere is full of camaraderie and smiles come easily. I have posted my photographs to document our project.
We had to retrace some steps because we ran into some snags with the dominoes not sticking to the board...but I think we are now on our way to making some headway.
Satuday there were lots of smiles and laughter among those paricipating.
Carol Cook Reid is the creator and manufacturer of Pathway Patterns
Recently I had the opportunity to participate in a classroom (AH/HON 4240)activity hosted by Carol Cook Reid. Carol Cook Reid is the creator and manufacturer of Pathway Patterns. Pathway Patterns is marketed as a group activity with the main purpose of bringing people together in a joint aim at making and extending pathways with the use of colored squares. Check out the featured article at www.examiner.com/life-photos-in-detroit/local-artist-carol-cook-reid-the-creator-and-manufacturer-of-pathway-patterns
The activity is composed of 4"x4" hand painted squares that have shapes that come together in a variety of ways. By combining these squares different pathways are joined and can extend for miles if done with the co operation of the person on either side of the table.
I personally found the activity enjoyable and it forced those who participated to come out of their shells and communicate with their neighbor. I think this is a great activity for family, friends, or as a solitary activity done at one’s leisure.
I would compare the process as something similar to making a quilt, but instead of using fabric one uses colored blocks of wood. The finished piece is an original design which can be glued to a board and hung as art. Hats off to Carol Cook Reid for creating such a marvelous activity. More photos can be found on flickr.com
In my Art History Class AH440_5 the students are given the opportunity to use their time to bring art to different organizations in the community. I am privileged to participate in this class program. I have been assigned to volunteer my time at Mariners Inn. I recently featured the organization in one of my examiner.com articles click here to view.
The purpose of the organization
"The mission of Mariners Inn is to provide compassionate, professional treatment for homeless people and to assist them in gaining their independence, health, dignity and self-esteem.
Everything we do focuses on preparing our clients to lead productive lives and prevent relapse. We work to achieve this mission through our programs. “~ http://www.marinersinn.org/whatwedo.htm
At Mariners Inn my assigned team is currently in the process of working to assemble a portrait of Obama with dominoes. It is an amazing project that inspires team work, co operation, problem solving and communication among those participating. This project was previously done by a team at Children's hospital and I featured a photo of the completed work in an earlier blog.
I've been updating my wardrobe over the past month and I have found that online shopping can be addictive! "When I'm lonely and when I'm discouraged" instead of calling some-one's name (like the group Switch) I check-out the sales online on the following websites; Macy's , Victoria Secrets, DSW and Urban Outfitters .
I leisurely browse the merchandise, and I add to my shopping cart, until I am very satisfied with my selections. Next I checkout, and I feel so much better about my life! I don't even have to leave the house or talk to people! And when the packages arrive it's just like Christmas but better 'cause I know there is a good chance I will like what I get! Lol! ;)
The song 'I Call Your Name' has nothing to do with this subject of online shopping but I like it so I have included the video.
Switch - I Call Your Name
"I used to think about immature things
You know like, do you love me? Do you want me?
Are you gonna call me like you said you would?
Is this really your real phone number?
But you know I'm a man now, baby, a grown man
And I came a long way, ha-ha
'Cause those fears taught me one thing
Taught me to hold on to my love}
Sometimes
I just can't help thinkin' livin' without you, baby
See, sometime
I just can't live cryin' about you, baby
I'm not worried 'bout a doggone thing
I'll take anything you bring
Although I love the sunshine
I'll still accept the rain
'Cause when I'm in my lonely mood
And I just can't be with you
I tried everything to occupy my mind
But there was no substitute
Thinking all that life would be
When you're not around
I just could not find a way
I wouldn't even know up from down
But since I've had you in my life
All these can be found
So strong and true, baby
All comin' from you
You, I call your name, girl
(Whenever I am lonely, baby)
I call your name
(When I feel the need of love)
I think of you and it eases the pain
Take away the strain...", Lyric
Ryan Farish has over 160 songs, available now from iTunes! His music is amazing. OMG! I just love what I have heard...I am amazed he doesn't have more of a following. His instrumentals are uplifting and entrancing. If you haven't heard his sound you don't know what you are missing. Please take a moment and check out his tunes.
