Featured Project: Community Artways
A partnership between Ottawa Salus Corporation, Ottawa Community Housing and Artswell, Arts and Healthcare.
Artways Project a Great Success
in Ottawa Community Housing
Recently, funding from the Supports to Social Housing Program made it possible for Ottawa Salus, Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) and Artswell to bring a community arts project into three OCH buildings. MacLaren, Regina Towers and Lepage Manor were the happy recipients of Artways, a community based arts project with the theme of “A window into Community”. The event was open to all tenants and everyone was invited to participate at their leisure. The end result was a collective community art installation for each building.
The tenants were part of a project which grew right before their eyes. They were able to make their mark, express themselves with colour and music.
The photographs of their energetic creations attest to the huge difference they made to their environment. Artswell provided guidance and all of the supplies necessary. There were plenty of supplies on hand; window frames, canvas panels, paints, brushes, paper, glue, glitter, easels, and artcarts.
Tenant lounges were transformed into art studios April 8th through April 16th, 2010, and many claimed they had never before seen the spaces infused with such positive energy. “People came together in a way rarely seen in these buildings”, claimed one MacLaren tenant. Another told us, “We need this in the building on a regular basis”.
The Artways Project was an opportunity to extend the expressive arts into the three OCH buildings in which Salus is currently partnered. Mary Pfaff, Director of Arts and Development with Artswell, and Tamara Chipperfield, Salus Program Manager, along with other Salus staff have witnessed the benefits of expressive arts in mental health over the last three years at Salus.
Artways was structured as two full days of art per building, culminating in a mini vernissage at the end of the second day. Participants and other building tenants celebrated the projects with music, drumming circles and food provided by Krackers Katering and The Mission Catering Services. Over the six days, more than 65 people left their mark on the projects - many creating individual masterpieces which were then woven into the greater collective piece. Artswell and Salus staff were inspired by the level of participation, the supportive atmosphere and the creative output by the tenants.
Some tenants even surprised themselves. One woman from Regina commented, “I’ve never done art before, but look what I did today! This is me (a flower) and this is all the transformation happening in my life lately (starbursts)!”.
A MacLaren tenant remarked that she “hadn’t had this much fun in years”. Many claimed that the event was incredibly relaxing and helped them to de-stress.
Participants responded to the event and it's results:
“Amazing, therapeutic and entertaining! I am grateful to have enjoyed such a grand experience”
“Brings brightness and inspiration to the building. What people look like on the outside has absolutely no reflection on the creativity they have on the inside”
“(I enjoyed) the community part and the art part. I am very shy, social anxiety, and enjoy the company even if I can't always join in. You make a big difference to people like me.”
“We all made a contribution to art. A lot of people had a lot of ideas.”
“The staff were so welcoming and helpful and knowledgeable.”
“This project surpassed my expectations and continued and confirmed my passion for art and creating!”
“There was peace and happiness in out lounge for both days and no conflict. I thank this project and the people involved for that atmosphere.”
“Living in Ottawa Housing s not always easy but days like these last 2 days make a world of difference to our spirit reminding us that we do have value.”
“I love all your supplies!”
“It took my mind off problems - relaxing.”
“Thank you for renewing my interest in art.”
“The staff were so welcoming and helpful and knowledgeable.”
“Thank you for renewing my interest in art.”
“I used to paint and love being creative. I didn't realize until today how I missed it.”
“Tons of fun!”
“The location was in my building so I could spend the whole day.”
“Over exceeded my expectations.”
Thank you
The energy, thoughtfulness and creativity demonstrated by all who participated in this unique event made the project a true celebration of the value of community.
To Our Artists
Beth Ross, Andrea Warren and Janet Beath.
Ben Holland for drumming session, Andrea Warren for guitar and songs.
Thanks to the Fabulous Staff and Salus
Tamara Chipperfield, Dino Langis, Shelagh Roxburgh, Shannon Parsons, Joyce Florence, Bruce Potter and Anthony Gorman.
Terrific Volunteers from Salus: Cy Winters, Donna Lee Holley.
Thanks to Artswell’s Directors Penny Skelton & Richard Starnes.
Community building through the Arts: an event made possible through the Supports to Social Housing Program Benefiting tenant communities at Maclaren Towers, Regina Towers and Lepage Manor
Cast Off
Cast Off was established as the result of discussions between Artswell Arts Director Mary Pfaff and occupational therapist Karen Kurkzrock, who leads The Ottawa Hospital eating disorders program Self-expression Through Arts with social worker Sally Cuddy.
Ms. Pfaff, who has more than 15 years experience in the arts and healthcare field, worked with Artswell art therapist Kris May to write the broad-based, exclusive program for the three-month project. A total of 25 people — some in-patients some out-patients — took part in the project facilitated by Ms. Pfaff and Ms. May.
The project title, Cast Off, was inspired by the practice, during recovery, of patients bringing in their old clothes, literally shedding clothing as a symbol of renewal. Discarded clothing was the original raw ingredient for the project. The way in which it was woven in depended, in part, on the ideas and feelings generated by the participants.
Patients were free to explore a wide variety of art materials and techniques. No previous experience in the arts was required. The artists acted as guides, helping the patients to give form to their creative expression. As facilitators they emphasized the potential of each person, providing opportunities for more autonomic control of self expression.
Decisions on size, form, colour, structure, composition, combinations of materials were made by the participants. Our goal was to offer as many opportunities to share and make choices through the arts as possible – photography, visualization, poetry writing and visual journaling.
Many thanks to the Ottawa Hospital for funding Cast Off.
Participant’s descriptions of her mask
The white colour of the board edges represents purity — as when we are born. The deep red colour and gritty texture is the painful things in my life, when things started to fall apart. This mask is cut into pieces showing the pain but I painted it a beautiful golden colour representing the good parts of myself. The wire across it holds it together to show how I will eventually be — I see it as a start of healing and a new direction for me.
– participant
At first I was anxious. Then I began to listen to the music and I was drawing all kinds of black marks. Then R came and made a flower out of them. It was like a gift (tears in her eyes). I went from being anxious to being really moved.
– participant
Shine
Out patients in this unit provided a particular challenge, especially in the areas of infection control and the position of patients when receiving treatment as well as other health issues visual impairment, dementia, and uncertain life expectancy.
Ms. Pfaff took all aspects into consideration and consulted extensively with Nephrology clinical staff before implementing a unique program that incorporated all health safety aspects and devised the making of a paper quilt in a way in which it did not interfere with dialysis access.
Considering these circumstances, Ms. Pfaff designed a painting element, a music listening element and a story-telling element, adapting each to fit the patients’ needs. Our objectives were to; help reduce depression, anger and loss; to provide a positive non-threatening art and music experience; to ensure the project was inclusive, fun and simple; to make something everyone could relate to; and to provide programming for every unit and time slot and to address the infection control matter with clear-cut methods and procedures.
The project involved six artists — three musicians/performers: Gertrude Letourneau, Janice Mah and Ross Imrie, and three visual artists: Beth Ross, Jennifer-Ryder Jones and Mary Pfaff. Together they represented visual arts, music, music and painting, humour and story-telling.
The eight-week program embraced 30 patient stations and 180 patients. 84 took part in the painting aspect of the program and a further 60-65 in the music/entertainment aspect. The entire project included 72 hours hands-on with patients.
Many thanks to the Ottawa Hospital for funding Shine.
Some reactions to the program
Shine stimulated patients emotionally and physically. It gave them something to focus on and allowed them some respite from the daily treatment regime. Patients could focus on being creative rather than their long-term treatments. The artists were professional and a joy to work with.
– Marie Casey, Clinical Manager, Hemodialysis, Riverside Campus, Ottawa Hospital
Having worked with this patient population for more than 20 years, has given me some sense for their personal struggles with living with chronic kidney disease. This project has allowed some of our patients an opportunity to express themselves using various art forms. I only wish that everyone had the same opportunity.
– Janet Graham, RN, nephrology unit, Riverside Campus, Ottawa Hospital
Look at that, Mr. X is actually smiling...
– Nurse during music and stories performance.
Painting and Music for the Blind
Artist Mary Pfaff and musician Gertrude Letourneau designed and presented a ground-breaking painting and music workshop for the blind and visually impaired. The workshop was one sector of a four-part Masters Series developed by the National Gallery of Canada.
A display of pictures and sculpture produced during the series provided a centrepiece for a White Cane Week celebration at the Gallery in February.
Artswell and the National Gallery will continue their innovative partnership in 2007.
Sky Watching 2006
A mural for The Ottawa Hospital Arthritis Centre waiting area. Created by Artswell artists Anthony Clark, Beth Ross and Arts Director Mary Pfaff
This beautiful cloud mural was designed to transform the waiting area. A painted canvas stretches over two walls of the waiting area, one piece approximately four feet by 12 feet and five other sections fit between the two windows.
The richly textured mural draws the view from the window right into the room. Sky Watching envelops patients, while they wait, in an atmosphere of serenity and embraces them with nature’s colours.
The Power of Art, Music and Creation
In 2006, the Ottawa Citizen produced an extensive, award-winning series on all aspects of Alzheimer’s.
The series appeared in the newspaper for a week and included a broad web-based project.