AP Connections Blog.

Sharing photos of our recent community weaves. A heartfelt thank you to Stefanie Ly, my wonderful art therapy peer, who passed this project on to me. It’s such an inviting and meaningful way to build connection through creativity.

This invitation encourages an expressive process to the vision board idea, while prompting feeling states as we collect photos and images that inspire our relational goals and intentions.

Whether formed with intention or found by surprise, heart images become small reminders: love is both something we create and something we notice. Sharing this February during Heart Month more images of hearts both formed and found (part 2).

Titled 'Connecting Circles of Care' - this reflective eco-art piece was created a few days after the CATA conference in September through the lens of gratitude. Tapping into my felt-sense, I reflected upon our gathering in community to co-learn, create and share stories and wisdom from a place of allyship, inclusion and care.

The TATI and OATA community members gathered together again for the 2nd hybrid summer art hive at the beautiful TATI location with the theme: Collective Care in the Sign of Cancer.

Update for Nuances: Art Therapy Research and Disability Justice.

Mark your calendars and see you there in person again this year for continued professional development in art therapy with OATA’s Conference Retreat and AGM 2025!

Sharing photos from a wonderful afternoon of connecting in community through eco-art to honour INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY 2025!

Sharing more OATA moments from the 2023.AGM and the folks behind the scenes these past few years.

… Lisa remembers and shares a creative prompt inspired by a yoga and visualization experience.

As Mom celebrates another year, that we were not expecting to have together, I thought “let’s share this story with my creative community, and maybe encourage or inspire others to explore ways to create legacy art with their loved ones if they are able.”

There is a tapestry of diverse human experiences, created and held together with the common threads of understanding. So many of us during intensely stressful periods of our lives, feel alone with our problems, and if compounded by social isolation, this sense of uniqueness and aloneness increases. When we reach out to others, and as sharing and disclosures occur, there is comfort in knowing that others may have been effected by similar experiences.

Nuances: Art Therapy Research and Disability Justice.

Mark your calendars and see you there in person again this year for continued professional development in art therapy with OATA’s Conference Retreat and AGM 2025!

As OATA gears up for their next Conference-Retreat later in 2025, I thought it would be enjoyable to revisit moments and share photos from 2023. OATA members and TATI faculty and students mixed and mingled at this lively Art Hive Community Social.

…“For me, everything starts with a sketch. There’s always a story to tell and you never quite know how it’s going to end. I love the immediacy of graphite, charcoal and pastel. I love the handiness of watercolours, and the power of ink and acrylic media. All those pigments have history and chemistry. They make music for the eyes.”

The TATI and OATA community members gathered together for the first hybrid art hive at the beautiful new TATI location with the theme: Mending, Weaving and Repair.

Sharing information about the TATI Student Art Therapy Centre with news about current student groups in 2025.

Sharing with consent Jill Hewlett’s recent Mailing from Brain and Life Reset and her wonderful story The Friendship Bench..

Sharing reflections by OATA member Wanda Sawicki about the Heritage London Foundation Exhibit written and curated by Emmy Meredith on the history of Irene and Selwyn Dewdney and Art Therapy in London. The Opening on January 18th was very well attended, a full house!

New & Ongoing: Sharing Updates, News and Stories on the Connections Blog from the Ontario Art Therapy Association and its Members

Sharing eco-art and earth sculptures created in community on Monday September 30th for Truth and Reconciliation Day. Moments spent in reflection on this important day and in response to the natural materials.