ArtThread Foundation: Creativity for a cause

Fantastic Student Art from the Miami-Dade Clinical Art Therapy Department

It’s all about creativity – that’s our focus at ArtThread. But it’s not easy to maintain that spirit on an organizational level – to permeate it into the day-to-day workings of a group. Sometimes the best we can do is encourage and enable individuals to tap into that part of their spirit.

Last week we once again were privileged to witness the work of an organization that is all about creativity on both a macro and micro level: The Miami-Dade County Public School (M-DCPS) Clinical Art Therapy Department. We attended the opening of ARTWORKS!: Creatively Engaging Students' Strengths, a program that “challenges students to focus on their strengths, understand their limitations and learn skills through the creative process in order to be successful in school.”

This exhibition (more photos), open until May 28th, 2013 at the Frost Art Museum in Miami, features a stunning display of student artwork, as facilitated by this group of dedicated art therapists. Their program is one of the leading clinical programs in the USA, and they integrate the ArtThread Gallery as part of their intervention with students with emotional and behavioral disabilities.

“It’s wonderful to see the progression as the students use ArtThread,” said Dr. Patricia Isis, one of the principal therapists using the Gallery with students. “These tools help us encourage student creativity to help them feel empowered and engaged.”

The exhibition includes art made using a variety of media, and each piece is accompanied by statements from both the student artists and their therapists. Students are encouraged to express they way they feel as they work, and the therapists are now including color and shape components to the intervention – they can assign a color to their mood, and that color is tracked in their artwork.

“We are at the beginning stages of exploring the addition of color and shape as part of our work with ArtThread,” said Dr. Amanda Alders, one of the therapists leading in this part of the work. “We hope to build on the progress we have made during this semester to continue to meet student needs.”

These therapists were trained by ArtThread faculty on the use of the Gallery as part of the original Project 10/ArtThread Gallery launch, but they have taken it to a whole new level - in essence they have made it their own! Their innovation and dedication has transformed both the Gallery and the students – it’s a shining example of infusing creativity into the fabric of everything the organization covers. 

“The partnership with ArtThread has been very good for our students,” said Craig Siegel, District Chairperson for the department. “Students learn skills related to self-esteem, self-regulation, computer proficiency, and problem solving. And of course it is wonderful to be able to show their work in a gallery atmosphere.”

We could not agree more – seeing the work and hearing about the program is a fantastic reward for the work we do at ArtThread. We are so thankful to be associated with the amazing folks at the M-DCPS Clinical Art Therapy Department. They even created a beautiful brochure that features their work with ArtThread!

Visit the gallery at the Frost Museum, or visit the work online at the Project10/ArtThread Gallery.

By the way, Project 10: Transition Education Network serves as a conduit between the Florida Department of Education and all 67 school districts in addressing effective practices and research-based interventions to serve transitioning students with disabilities. Our partnership with Project 10 brings ArtThread’s creative tools to thousands of students, teachers, and therapists, and has resulted in the creation of well over 10,000 pieces of art!

Learn more about the Work of Art training program that was provided to the Project 10 community, and about ArtThread's other pARTners.

 

 

ArtThread founder delivers keynote at Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation

As a 40-year cancer survivor, ArtThread's CEO Jay Klein was the logical selection as keynote speaker for the 2nd annual Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation (TCAF) fundraiser in Grand Junction, CO.

"It was an honor to speak at this event because I am passionate about helping to save lives," said Jay. "Getting the word out about testicular cancer is crucial, and the TCAF does great work in getting young men to understand the importance of self-exams."

The event is the main yearly fundraiser for TCAF, and it was a night of inspiration, education, and appreciation. In addition to Jay's keynote presentation, renowned oncologist Dr. Craig Nichols was also a guest speaker. Dr. Nichols successfully treated Lance Armstrong for testicular cancer and he is a founding member of the Livestrong Foundation.

TCAF CEO Kim Jones is the driving force behind the organization, which she founded after her son was diagnosed with stage 4 testicular cancer. "My passion now is to help other families and young men from missing the signs of testicular cancer and help save lives. I cannot imagine having to deal with the death of a child, husband or brother to this disease," said Kim.

TCAF is dedicated to educating young men on the importance of early detection through the practice of monthly testicular self-exams, just as women are taught to detect early signs of breast cancer through monthly breast self-exams. These self-exams should be part of the health classes taught at the junior  and high school levels.

The photo at left shows Dr. Nichols, Kim Jones, and Jay Klein. Congratulations from ArtThread on this successful event!

 

 

ArtThread's Colors of Care™ program begins at Superior Residences in Ft. Myers

The ArtThread Foundation is launching their Colors of Care program at Superior Residences in Ft. Myers, Florida. Colors of Care is ArtThread’s innovative, experiential arts program that combines online technology, hands-on art-making, dedicated creativity mentors, and comprehensive training into a unified approach that improves quality of life for residents in assisted living and memory care facilities, and their families.

This pilot program at Superior Residences Health Park Fort Myers will include art-making sessions with residents of this memory care facility and training for their staff, along with direct workshops for family members. ArtThread faculty will  work with the families, showing them how  to use the  universal language of art to maintain a meaningful connection with their resident family members. ArtThread’s online technology allows this to happen no matter where the family is, providing effective support for both the family members and their loved one. 

“We are thrilled to be working with the team at ArtThread,” said Jenny Bellows, Executive Director of the Superior Residences facility in Ft. Myers. “We are seeing increased engagement and self-awareness in the residents who participate in the art-making sessions. The Colors of Care program offers Superior Residences and a new model that uses creativity and self-expression to raise the bar for quality in memory care.”

Michael DeWeese, Director of Life Enrichment in Ft. Myers, works hand-over-hand with the residents to help them get started on using the ArtThread art-making tools.  In the pictures at right and below he is working with a resident who already has a piece of her ArtThread art framed and sitting on the desk. 

The staff at Superior Residences will team up with ArtThread to provide outreach to the community as a way of both sharing creative experiences and providing respite to community caregivers.  These “Caring for the Caregivers” sessions will introduce the program to the Ft. Myers community, and give families a chance to see the Colors of Care program in action. 

In addition to ArtThread’s faculty, members of its StreetTeam will have an opportunity to participate in the workshop sessions at Superior Residences. StreetTeam is an ArtThread program that takes young people who are trained in using ArtThread software and places them in art-making workshops where they can share their skills and earn an income as ArtThread art mentors. 

Some of these StreetTeam students will come from ArtThread’s partnership with Project 10: Transition Education Network, a program that serves transitioning students with disabilities in Florida public schools. Placing these students with elders creates a unique opportunity for cross-generational skill sharing and communication.

“ArtThread’s integrated approach is perfect for what we do here,” said Bellows. “We like to nurture moments of creativity because those moments, those small victories add smiles to our residents’ lives. ArtThread’s program allows those moments to expand throughout our facility and beyond into families homes and the entire community.” 

Art (and art-making sessions) by residents will be streamed online via the ArtThread Interactive Online Gallery, and Superior Residences is installing video screens and computers throughout their facility to allow everyone to participate and view the art, which will also be used as way-finding markers to help residents get around more easily.

 

This new partnership expands the growing list of organizations that make use of ArtThread’s technology and programs – all with a common goal of improving quality of life for people impacted by illness, physical limitations, or social consequence.

 

About Superior Residences: Superior Residences at Health Park in Ft. Myers is a special memory care community for those with Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementia related illnesses. They work to preserve capabilities while protecting the dignity of each resident. Caring for the special needs of individuals with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's Disease and other dementia related illnesses requires an extraordinary balance of professionalism and sensitivity. Superior Residences management philosophy promotes innovation and encourages creativity so everyone can "Live the moment...Love the moment."

 

ARTWorks Exhibit at Frost Museum features ArtThread art made by students in Miami-Dade art therapy program

Last week Jay and I had the great privilege of attending the gallery opening of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Clinical Art Therapy Department's "ARTWorks" exhibit, at the Frost Museum. We were stunned by the fantastic work being done as part of this art therapy program - both the wonderful creativity of the students, and the stellar programming and support provided by the staff of art therapists. 

 

The exhibit centered around the theme "The Art of Relationship Building: challenging students to create a visual narrative on paper panels which are hung together to create a quilt. By retelling their story the students discover how their relationships have affected them while exploring and reconciling emotional conflicts." 

Here's the backstory on this one: in 2009 ArtThread's faculty did a series of training sessions throughout Florida, as part of the Project 10: Transition Education Network program. The goal was to train 100 teachers, therapists, and counselors to use our Work of Art program with transitioning students with disabilities in Florida public schools. The Miami training session was especially notable - we had no power or internet when the class began, so we had to do a major improv until the class was moved to a different location.

 

Fast forward to today, and we find the art therapists we trained, lead by Craig Seigel and Dr. Patricia Isis, have integrated the Work of Art program into their art therapy program, and these students have become experts in using Splash!, ArtThread's online, no-fail, big-fun artmaking tool.

The exhibit was truly amazing - the students used their moments of creativity to explore some deep emotions, and they got a taste of how making art can become a vital opportunity for processing life's most challenging experiences. It was all there on the walls - the tough times and the victories - all in the language of art. 

Hung in the beautiful Frost Museum on the campus of Florida International University, and coordinated by therapists Leah Guzman and Yehoshua Ventura, each piece was accompanied by statements from the artist and the therapist, and the combination of the words and the art gave us an incredible window into the hearts and minds of these talented kids - many of whom are faced with emotional and behavioral challenges. 

 

 

For Jay and me it was an epiphany - a moment that helped to validate our hard work, and the very existence of the ArtThread Foundation. We saw it happening before our eyes - people being creative, coming together and feeling better - this is the work of the ArtThread Foundation!

We look forward to more collaboration with the Miami-Dade Art Therapy team, and with all our wonderful partners.

You can see this art and many other pieces on the Project 10/ArtThread Gallery.

 

 Here are a couple of the many pieces, with the artist and therapist statements:

 

Amazing color here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art, Dance, and Music on Stage Together

We are always amazed at the innovative ways our partners find to use ArtThread's art making tools. VSA Florida artist and National Dance Week delegate Anna Preston was the driving force behind the collaborative and mixed media event called A Dance For Everyone.

 

 This National Dance Week 2011 celebration included a mixed bill dance concert featuring local and professional dance troupes as they come together to support VSAFL, the state organization on arts and disability. Special guests included Karen Peterson and Dancers, a professional company out of Miami that embraces differences. They took the stage with an ArtThread collaborative visual art performance, along with the musical group Zen Fuse Box.

 

Anna Preston adds this: Karen Peterson and Dancers were also featured on the concert bill but the professional dance company that collaborated with ArtThread and Zen Fuse Box was Anna Preston & Dancers. The company members pictured are Jasmine Bishop, Lindsay Davis, Jen Jacoby, Lisa Langford, and Chelsea Varsaci. The piece was costumed by Elissa Zeltzer and the visual artists were Bruno Chagas and Ben Parson, mentored in ArtThread by Dan Galloway.

 

The dancers performed while artists used ArtThread's Splash software to paint a live and interactive background for the dancers. You can see their work in the pictures above. The event took place at the Lyric Theater on May 1 in Stuart, FL.

 

Art, music, and dance all united on stage - fantastic!

 

 

The Healing Power of Art

by David Haas

Anyone battling cancer knows the value of therapy. Be it medicinal, psychological, or homeopathic, therapy is one of the biggest weapons when fighting a disease like cancer. Whether you are fighting a rare and terminal disease such as mesothelioma, or you are dealing with breast cancer, everyone who suffers from cancer is engaged in the same fight. Cancer affects everyone differently, yet all the same.

While there are many medicinal routes to take when fighting cancer, and many of which are proven successes, one avenue to pursue to improve ones mind psychologically when dealing with cancer is art. Art therapy encompasses multimedia, meaning that its approach incorporates painting, drawing, music, and other forms of art. By incorporating art and creativity into your cancer treatment, you may find it easier to cope with the realities of this deadly disease.

Cancer, in and of itself, can be a very frightening experience. Many people find themselves lost when they are diagnosed with cancer. For instance, due to the recent amount of media attention, those with a mesothelioma prognosis may find themselves very scared. Art therapy can help these people cope with those feelings by creating a tranquil environment outside the cancer experience.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer and are seeking all treatment options, including alternative therapies, making art may be right for you. Art as therapy involves getting cancer patients involved in stress reducing activities, such as painting, playing or learning to play an instrument, as well as discovering creativity using mixed media. Studies have show that those who keep their mind, body, and spirit occupied have a lesser chance of contracting a disease, and a greater chance of fighting off diseases. In terms of cancer, patients show greater improvement when they are engaged in artistic activities, compared to those who are not.

Of course, cancer affects everyone differently and the methods of treatment that work for one may not work for another, but when battling a disease such a cancer, it is important to try every option available. Art therapy continues to be of great help, both to those suffering from cancer, and to the families and caregivers. Sharing that creativity from within and creating something (feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day) is what art therapy is all about. Patients with cancer who engage in activities that stimulate the brain show a better healing rate when compare to cancer patients who do not engage in any artistic activities.

 

Our guest blogger David Haas is a cancer patient advocate for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. David wants to make a difference in patient's lives because cancer has devastated so many people in this world. He loves to write and share opinions, feelings, and views with others. "I love my job, because I get to help cancer patients all over the United States." David also enjoys rock climbing, racquetball, golf, and watching sports.

The ArtThread Gallery is a great place to start exploring your creative side. Go for it!

 

Scan Design–ArtThread event a huge success!

Art, music, wine, and creativity were all flowing freely at Scan Design’s Fall in Furniture Love art contest and showcase event last week in Tampa. 

This was the fourth annual presentation of this community art event, put on by all four Scan Design stores in Florida.  The wonderful staff at the Tampa store created a magical atmosphere in their huge showroom, which included a presentation of all the fine art that was submitted for the art contest.

We at ArtThread were honored to be chosen as the featured non-profit recipient of the proceeds from the silent auction of items donated by a host of Tampa businesses (see the list at the end of this post), including a fantastic recliner donated for raffle by Scan Design.

 Our “Splash Party” station was set up for everyone to get a chance to experience the engaging fun of doing virtual painting with ArtThread’s online art-maker (Jay is showing people how to do it, above). Projected on one of the walls, you could see the art being made from all over the store (see below). Have a look at some of the art made during this "paint-in" in this thread in the ArtThread Gallery.

 

“This event is a wonderful demonstration of how art creates community,” said Jay Klein, ArtThread CEO. “This was a chance for real immersion – while you were surrounded by the work of all these fine artists who submitted their art, you could at the same time make your own masterpiece. This "art everywhere" experience is just what we are all about at ArtThread.”

Around the corner from the Splash station the folks at Scan Design provided a large canvas (see below) for everyone to paint, too, giving the whole crowd a double whammy of creative opportunities.

 Scan Design’s team deserves kudos for a job well done, and we are grateful to store owner Mikael Eskilden and the entire staff for all their help and support in creating this superlative event. You can see the work submitted by artists from the previous events in this thread on the ArtThread Gallery.

The band Orange Groove provided the jazz music for the crowd, and ArtThread board member Cathy DeWitt sang a tune with the group.

 

Proceeds from the event go toward sustaining the ArtThread Foundation’s web infrastructure, and to supporting our efforts to donate online art-making and 21st century skill building technology to non-profit charities and organizations in the state of Florida and around the world.

Our heartfelt thanks to Scan Design and these Tampa businesses who donated their goods and services for the silent auction:

• Becker Designed, Inc. - BDI
• Dreamweaver's, Inc.
• Foreign Accents
• BAZZ Lighting
• Esther Jensen
• Wildcat Territory
• Ligne Pure
• Crispers
• Café Luna
• Sirata Beach Resort
• Tradewinds Beach Resort
• Dolphin Landings Charter
• Seminole Lake Country Club
• The Art of Massage
• Muse the Salon
• Wrights Gourmet House
• Joshua & Jessica Skroch
• Genesis Weight Loss

 

Art Mashup!

Art is not sacred (really, it's not), and on the ArtThread Gallery we have tools to make mashups of images, including ways of making subtle changes that make a big difference.

A few brush strokes in this photo of a butterfly, and we've got a whole new face.  This feature is part of Splash!, and you'll find it in the Shape tool.  

This image is from an artist (remember, we are all artists) in Project 10: Transition Education Network, the primary conduit between the Florida Department of Education and transitioning students with disabilities in Florida public schools. Project 10 is one of ArtThread's favorite partners!

ArtThread's faculty provided the Work of Art training program to the staff of Project 10, as well as over 100 teachers, administrators, therapists, and tech support people.  These ArtThread mentors are training students and other teachers on using all the features of the Project 10 - ArtThread Gallery.

Providing opportunities for creative expression and art-to-art conversations for these students is right in line with our mission.  It's great to play a part in helping these students and teachers connect, create, and thrive!

Art and Disaster

Looking at the newspaper this morning I came upon a photo of an oil-covered bird forlornly leaning against the rusty hull of a cleanup vessel in the Gulf of Mexico.  The image carries so much weight - in looking at it you know this bird is not going to make it. 

That got me thinking about creativity in the face of disaster.  At the onset of this mess in the Gulf, key people involved in finding solutions are tapping into their own creative juices to try and come up with a way to stop the mile-deep leak.  The pressure is on and at these moments we can do some of our best work - let's hope so. 

What about the rest of us - can we tap into our creativity and make a difference?  Some of us will don yellow hazmat suits and flock to the coast to clean birds and other marine animals. Others will lament and find it all much too overwhelming.  But as artists (remember- we are all artists!) we can do something else - we can manifest these feelings in our daily acts, and in our art.  

One of the artists on the ArtThread Gallery has a thread called "doomday" and in it is this maelstrom called "2012," shown above.  Made with Splash, ArtThread's online art-making tool, this piece is a powerful expression of chaos.  In creating this, the artist opens a window and allows us to see the realization of their vision.  As for what goes on in the artist's mind at the moment of creation, we have no idea, but something is transferred from artist to viewer - something is left behind and something is gained.   

The ducks aren't any cleaner, but perhaps a bit of our selves is washed clean in that moment of creation.  Give it a try...

New Splash Art: Grass Lights and Tones

We've been getting some wonderful new art made by ArtThread thrivors using Splash!, our online art-making tool.  This online app encourages you to explore it's game-like interface - you can simply click around and watch the art unfold.  Or you can dive in with a vision and something like this:

This one, called Grass Lights, is the work of one of our favorite artists, and you can see more of her work in the thread where this art lives - Magic and Mystery.  

Here's another one, made by creating a piece and then stamping multiple images of it on another canvas.  Looks like it should be hanging at MOMA:

This one is part a series of black and white pieces.  Check out the Tones thread and  see some of the monochrome possibilities.

Jump in - spend a minute and make a piece for yourself - you deserve it!