TELUS awards $10,000 to Artswell for Motions and Potions project
TELUS Ottawa Community Board member Jim Orban, who is also
President and CEO of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute presents
the $10,000 grant that has made the Motions and Potions project
possible to Artswell Arts and Development director Mary Pfaff.
Artswell is thrilled to announce that TELUS Communications has presented us with a $10,000 grant to provide a unique pilot project in partnership with Hopewell, eastern Ontario's only eating disorder support centre.
Specifically designed to motivate and inspire those between the ages of 16 and 25, Motions and Potions offers an exciting, diverse series of creative afternoons in the course of which the transforming power of the arts will be used to encourage healthy self - image, increased social interaction and new skill sets to effect positive change in attitude and behaviour.
Building on experience from successful past programs, the Artswell team of artists and therapists will offer their broad expertise to provide a collaborative, inclusive and fun approach, to both art engagement and art therapy in a safe and inviting environment.
All 10 workshops will act as a productive framework where youth can experiment, discover and shine.
The Motions and Potions project is designed to advance the quality of life of young people struggling with depression, low self esteem, social anxiety and distorted body image through involving them in creative arts and providing them with positive outlets for their physical and emotional difficulties. The workshops will demonstrate how the arts can make a difference in the life of young people, incorporating the fields of health, social challenge, science, arts, youth, communication, and on-line digital media.
Statistics show that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and that suicide is the leading cause of death among Canadian youth. Research has proven youth who directly experience challenges in society can often identify solutions through the "talking arts" (movement, colour and narrative).
Our artists/ therapists will explore the concept of self-worth through storytelling, visual arts, photography, journaling, drama and dance. The vital and playful Motions and Potions theme will be reflected through revealing the magic of arts.
Themes like body image and the media and working to change stereotypes and finding personal meaning through the creative process will be explored.
Absolutely no special skills are required; every participant will be delighted by what they experience and produce, how they can express themselves and how they will be able to improve their feelings of self-worth.
Take a look at what each participant can look forward to on Saturday afternoons during March, April and May at the Hopewell facility on Chapel Street in downtown Ottawa.
Mandala Magic: Try your hand at the ancient art of Mandalas guided by Josée Robillard
Making Waves: Expect dramatic results from painting on silk with Janet Beath
Amulets and Talismans: Use mixed media to produce healing objects led by Jennifer Ryder Jones
Passages: Bring out the artist in you with collage and works on paper under guidance from Beth Ross
What's Up: Experience the power of visual journaling and storytelling with Mary Pfaff
Making Changes: Take found objects and turn them into something new, unique with Valerie Dunn
Flying, Fairytales, and Magic: Be surprised by this movement and theatre experience with Elena Shalaev
Healing Potions: Rediscover self-confidence through dance and stillness with Elena Shalaev
Shifting Colours: Discover the therapeutic benefits of colour and painting with Mary Pfaff and Elena Shalaev
Self Image - Wear yourself out LOUD: Focus on photography and getting to know yourself with Curtis Trubiak
We are planning a fabulous finale where participants, with assistance from their instructors, will stage an exhibition of their expressions and creations at Heartwood House Gallery in the heart of downtown.
This project will advance the quality of life for young people struggling with depression, low self esteem and eating disorders and body image issues through involving them in creative arts and providing them with positive outlet for their physical and emotional difficulties. It upholds the value of the creative arts experience.
We are grateful Hopewell has agreed to partner. Hopewell promotes prevention by helping people understand eating disorders and the importance of healthy attitudes towards body image, eating and physical activity. It is a great fit and a splendid opportunity.
We are delighted that TELUS has given us the opportunity to offer this pilot project because it is a logical extension of our mission, revealing the power of the arts for youth self-growth, well-being and health. It supports healing, social change, builds stronger communities and bridges communication.
My Artswell Practicum
This summer, Artswell has been happy to share its passion for arts and wellness and enter into an agreement with dance therapist Elena Shalaev. It has allowed her to complete her practicum in counselling, which is a mandatory part of her Master's degree in counselling psychology at Yorkville University. And it has given Artswell the benefit of her intelligent enthusiasm and expertise. Here is how Elena describes the partnership, one which Artswell hopes will continue to grow as we grow.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez in his magic-realistic masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude writes about the mythical jungle village of Macondo, where all the residents suffer from a disease that causes them to lose all memory.
The symptoms of this Alzheimer's-like disease persist until a traveling magician-gypsy returns the residents' health by curing them with a drink "of a gentle color".
The experiences I had every Monday morning reminded me of Marquez' village. Together with other Artswell colleagues working and volunteering, we offered visual art projects, music, movement, and supporting words to the residents in a variety of venues. We all believe in the value of a moment, in the power of an art potion. We work on creating magic for our younger and older participants.
I would start my practicum week with challenging but rewarding therapy for seniors and continue by doing other different activities, such as individual counselling sessions, preparing and conducting the art healing workshops, doing research for future grants for Alzheimer's, cancer, and eating disorder patients. Some Fridays, we led creative workshops for Ottawa Salus community Mental health Services. There, I led movement and dance therapy and was also offered a chance to try different art techniques as a participant.
I have learned a lot during these three months of my internship: counselling skills, administrative tools, working with a wide variety of clients, combining my studies with the challenges of real world patients.
My supervisor Marijan Grobbink, my company director Mary Pfaff, and my colleagues at Artswell showed support and understanding during my practicum and became my dear friends.
Through our professional communication and our collaborative workshops that we offered for the cancer patients, I realized that our innovative, multimodal approach was a great fit for the patients and it created a unique synergy of arts: my favourite poetically-felt space.
During my internship, I felt inspired, I felt comfortable, I felt welcome to the arts and Artswell.
