I wanted to take this project outside the university, and see what workshops we could plan and deliver on arts for health.
I emailed a school that I had contact with to see if there was any opportunity for Freya and I to come in and run some workshops in some art lessons.
After a a couple of meetings discussing our project, the head of the art department Carrie Waxman was keen for us to deliver workshops on arts for health that the young people can relate to – such as mental health issues/ body image/ bullying etc.
This was a more focused arts for health project, as it was designed for a younger audience to engage with. Taking the card activity ‘Who? What? How?’ would not have been appropriate for the young people as there were situations that they may not be familiar with, or may be a sensitive topic to bring up- which we are not trained and qualified for.
It’s important for us to acknowledge our role as workshop facilitators of a creative project on the topic of arts for health – we are not art therapists and we are not putting on an arts for health project – this will hopefully come later on with experience after graduation, but for now this workshop is for informal education on arts for health awareness, and open discussions on the topic.
Planning
We decided to split the workshop lessons in half, that way we could both plan workshops independently, and we could experience leading a workshop and supporting a workshop.
My lesson plans:
-What makes you feel
-Identity
-Kintsugi
Freyas lesson plans:
-Self potrait
-Cinematic photography
Planning notes:
Arts for Health workshop
Going into a high school and a Youth group to spread awareness of what Arts for Health is, and engage the teenagers in workshops that touch on different arts for health practices.
King David High school and sixth form, years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12
Mahdlo Youth Zone, pop in the workshop for teenagers of all ages
Arts for Health for teenagers:
- Mental health
- Bullying
- Body image
- Social media
- Stress
- Anxiety
- knife crime
Think and research ideas of other projects done to help with these issues.
Ideas to help engage teens:
- Selfies
- Social media
- Music
- #hashtags
- Movement
5 Immersive workshop ideas:
We wanted to plan our lessons that relates to our personal practice.
Freyas practice involves photography and portraiture. Whereas my practice involved stitch/ threads, making, family, identity, fingerprints etc. fixing broken objects – Japanese art of Kintsugi.
1-Self-portrait (Freya) body image
2-Cinematic freeze photography (Freya) Bullying
3- Slow down/ flow state/ creating to music OR repairing the cracks (which relate to Tamaras project)
4- Something to say, using words, write a postcard to yourself? Social media #hashtags
5-String art (Tamara to develop in practice project as it related) mental health and support, someone to talk to
(Separated into Tamara and Freyas notes to avoid confusion! )
Tamara’s idea notes:
Come up with big ideas for immersive and engaging workshops to help think about how Arts can be used for Health.
Idea for mahdlo
Ideas for 2-3 workshops
3- Kintsugi
Repairing the cracks in something that is broken – Mental health
Japanese art of kintsugi
Repairs broken objects with Gold
How can I make this into an engaging workshop?
1.Everyone creates something large
Then they all tear it apart
Then they have to work together to repair it?
What? Materials?
How?
2.Bring in broken objects e.g. bowls and as groups they have to put the pieces together
-Hot glue gun
-Gold paint
What about Mosaic?
Egg shells
Affordable and effective
Display of everyone’s egg shells, framed? Like the artist Elisa sheehan
*develop this idea – could be a powerful message if done properly
4- Have something to say?
Above: Postcards to yourself (past of present)
Send a letter to yourself in a year? Maybe we can post it to them?
Write a letter to yourself a year ago
Collaged messages
*Maybe to develop this idea or using words to express yourself
-Newspapers
Cut out words and letters to collage what you have to say (about the topic e.g. knife crime, bullying…)
Weaving together created words and sentences
From the newspapers collected together to communicate? Or made.
This could be one large piece made by the whole group to display.
Collage together in a small book? Or on a page?
Everyone gets a different theme to write their message about, put all of them together at the end to communicate overall feelings towards these issues.
Like seen in ARC – the tree with words hanging (boxes of words)
And ideas as seen before – words made of collected from newspapers/ magazines about certain thoughts/ feelings/ issues on a topic.
Bringing everyone’s feelings together and hanging them as a display in some way.
Or even hanging/ displaying a image/ poem from each individual, or each group.
Below example of ‘Identity’
Providing a stencil – or step by step how to draw your own.
Fingerprints
Writing “I AM….”
Self esteem/ confidence workshop
Stitch a message – possibility if there is an interest in this as it’s a slow process.
Try creating a workshop that involves #hashtags and filters? Using words to caption
What you really think? How you really feel? What do you need to say?
Maybe creating real-life filters and hashtags to be photo props (like on the healthy knees but related to mental health, speak up etc.)
5- String art
What made me
https://www.behance.net/gallery/4419469/WHAT-MADE-ME-Interactive-Public-Installation
A workshop to tackle the ideas of this ‘perfect’ image social media creates for each person. Giving off the ‘perfect’ pictures and image that each person wants to project.
But this is NOT the whole picture. You are so much more than what your social media can capture.
Who are you? What are you made up of?
I like the idea of using Thread to connect all the aspects of what makes you.
What are you? student, child, young person, son/daughter, brother/sister, friend, a writer, artist, good, thoughtful, caring, creative, ambitious etc.
Maybe each person can have their own board to create their own ‘string art’ with this idea?
*idea to develop and expand
This would need: string/nails/hammers/wood (which would be good for a whole group activity for older year group who are sensible)
Ways to make it less of a hazard – embroidery with the same idea, or stitching string into the canvas
Think of ways string/thread can be used to connect things together. Maybe we can do a group activity involving movement and each person has a thread and everyone has to connect to each other holding onto each person thread. Then after they have to make a bracelet using a piece of everyone’s thread which they can keep with them – symbolising that everyone is there for you if you need someone.
Or maybe each person personalised their piece and then they share between, to create a weaved or connected piece.
*I might try this in my art classes and see how it works
Is there a way to make this into a group project?
Perhaps the class can make one LARGE image together, or separate pieces that connect together.
Maybe each name in the class can connect, how we are all connected and all there to support each other. ‘Always know you are not alone and have someone to speak to and connect with’.
Key Arts for this could focus on Bullying, Mental health, social media (real-life connections, not all the friends on Facebook that aren’t really friends? )
WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL …
LESSON PLAN
Ending : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9a69_ILdEM
Secondary school (14-18) –
Can make more informative, structured time over three weeks so can develop a process and ideas. Could do a different activity each week or stick to one and develop it? Develop sewing/photography- could have a group each?
Secondary school (12-14) –
Basic introduction into arts for health, giving more of a general idea/ planting the seeds and just making them aware of arts for health.
Mahdlo (14-16?) –
Youth Group, therefore fun and in free time, an activity they can come and go from, more drop in. I think Mahdlo should be more based on slowing down- teenage life is hectic, so if they stop by for 5 mins/ one hour etc research some slow workshop ideas, perhaps try and encourage a conversation about the benefits of slowing down, how and when they could do this in their lives, and why this is important.
Freyas workshops:
Photography/ my practice workshop ideas-
Make a pinhole camera – disrupt the film – think about ways of displaying/cutting up final images. (problems with this- using pen knives, quite fiddly, a lot of films needed, I may have to pay to develop all film…could be 50 to 100 pounds?!)
Creating a scene, that has a narrative that they will ‘freeze’ and take the photograph. Film style images, perhaps reflecting MH troubles they know of. Introducing cinematic photography can relate to films they may have watched, start to explain how photography can be used to express feelings and relay messages to others.
Self-portraits? A selfie a popular thing with young people, to teach how to compose a self-portrait properly, perhaps learn about the origin of portraiture. Can touch on the MH side of portraits, not everybody likes the way they look, so could develop what a self-portrait can also be, an image of their feet and favourite shoes, hands, a favourite possession? Explain why they have picked this to represent themselves? E.g an image of their hands, because allow me to cook, and I want to be a chef when I’m older. (relate to humans of New York photographer) Depending on schools facilities, could then go onto editing, and perhaps display around the classroom, and have some people explain why they have chosen what they did. Hopefully, this could be confidence boosting and making people aware of other students hidden talents.
- Drawing around each other
Origami? Simpler to do, slowing down, perhaps more suitable for Mahdlo, or younger children, as more about the process rather than the end product. Make origami info, personal reminder creations. Like you unfold the part that says ‘anxiety’ and underneath it has some tips for you to read. A small useful token to have or to give to somebody to help you in a time of need. More calming/writing workshop. Great idea for mahdlo
Synesthesia idea- so people with synesthesia brain pathways get mixed up, so for example when they hear sound, the see shapes and colours ( some really cool artists do their artwork based on this) So could do a relaxing drawing/painting to what you hear, more about slowing down, mindfulness, flow state etc. Perhaps do with a smaller and older group/ or could work with younger years 9s too?. Themes about how we all interpret information differently, we all understand things differently and create differently – (relates to being inclusive and understanding???)
An emotional response to the subject/something physical- words that pop into my mind= letting go, realising, breaking, throwing, putting together, taking apart, making something for it to change, passing something around, and changing it to your own response.
FINAL DISPLAY- maybe in a circle shape to emphasise the importance of supporting each other. Bringing all the works together in a college/something hanging/ stuck to the floor.
Make a large tapestry/patchwork/college, perhaps on a long piece of fabric or paper, made up of lots of smaller creations from the individuals in the class.
Exploring Arts For Health 