Nature Art on Truth & Reconciliation Day.
Sharing another meaningful group experience from September co-creating with natural materials. Through the lens of an Eco-Artist and Art Therapist who works regularly with natural elements in my LTC practice and personal art making (while spending copious amounts of time in a garden setting), I was again excited to provide the opportunity for a meditative and community-connecting nature-based art activity on Truth and Reconciliation Day.
From my approach informed by the models of art therapy, open studio and the art hive, materials were plentiful and free, and the art making encouraged sensory engagement, imagination, reminiscence and supported creative play.
I again observed how the natural materials themselves invited embodied engagement quite quickly. Everyone appeared excited to work with the soft clay and greenery. No encouragement was needed! The intrinsic tactile and sensory qualities soothed and extended focus as well, even for those who have shorter attention spans. Before we knew it, it was time for everyone to go to dinner!!
Gratitude was shared for the nature buffet and experience provided. All group members wanted to take their creations with them upon completion, enthusiastically voicing their desire to work with clay and natural materials again.
The addition of orange accents such as feathers (visual cues and symbolism) combined with taking time to acknowledge the intention of the group as we created, aided and prompted moments of reflection around the importance of this day, to honour the land on which we are settlers (and acknowledge the impact and atrocities around the residential school system).
Similar to the Earth-Day Workshop I facilitated for another older-adult group, the colours and textures of nature were familiar and inviting, prompting reminiscence for some who would have spent hours nurturing their own gardens before moving into a long-term care community.
And, although we were not outside in nature, having nature brought in was still comforting, enjoyable and creatively stimulating!
This embodied life-experience bypassed many memory or cognitive challenges and allowed the residents to immerse themselves in the imaginative, sensory, and relational process and be quite self-directed and playful in the creative experience.
The healing properties of the earth (nature as kin…) resonated as we gathered in community on September 30th to create. The lush scents and rich visuals nurtured all (residents and staff alike) who visited the activity room that day! A heartfelt thank you to Isabel and Uneet for their support during the group.
Stories from the Connections Blog. Older Adults. These Hands Create!
✿ Creativity and Aging
〰 Creativity as We Age. Art as Connection. 〰 collective post sharing the importance of creativity and aging
✿ Art Therapy with Older Adults • Reflections & Stories.
〰 Art & Horticultural Therapy. A Creative Collaboration. 〰 program for older adults with dementia
〰 Connecting Hands 〰 reflections on art therapy and older adults with dementia
〰 Roxy Art Group Mascot 〰 sharing a little story about the value of pet visits for residents in LTC
✿ Community Art Projects with Older Adults. Stories on the Connections Blog
〰 Creativity in Community. Celebrating Seniors Month. 〰 sharing a creativity afternoon project in LTC
〰 Earth Day at Amica 2023. April & Heather. • sharing an eco-art project in this retirement community
〰 Supportive Hands. A Connecting and Creative Legacy Project. 〰 sharing a 10 year community hands project
〰 ‘Supportive Hands’... The Origin Story. 〰 AP • sharing a community project with my LTC colleagues
〰 What Kind of Shoe are You? 〰 a playful LTC story from the collaboration of art therapy and complementary care
Eco-Art creation post group to honour Truth and Reconciliation Day.
✿ Truth And Reconciliation Day • Sept. 30th
〰 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 〰 information on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
〰 Orange Shirt Day 〰 information and resources on Orange Shirt Day and ways to support reconciliation every day
✿ Related Post Links:
〰 Every Child Matters Shirt 〰 the 2024 Every Child Matters Orange Shirt Design
〰 Kyle Joedicke 〰 T-shirt Design by Hamilton Indigenous Artist that I am wearing above in the photo collage 〰 @kylejoedickeart
〰 This artist is breathing Indigenous life into Hamilton, one mural at a time 〰 Woodland style Indigenous artist commissioned to create murals across Hamilton • retrieved from www.cbc.ca
✿ Indigenous Stories and Resources on the Connections Blog:
〰 ReMatriation for heARTivists. Circle of Indigenous Healing Arts. Response Art. 〰 response art from 2022 Symposium
〰 When I Heard the Recent Horrific News. Response Art 〰 response art for the Wheat Memorial Gallery 2021
〰 Supporting Indigenous Art, Learning & Initiatives 〰 links and resources for continued learning, awareness and allyship
〰 A Four Part Anti-Indigenous Racism Discussion. 〰 Sharing news and resources related to this presentation and discussion by Durham Indigenous Voices AP BLOG