Yesterday, on zoom, I had the privilege of meeting some of the participants and caregivers involved at Art Therapy Express, where I will be interning this summer. ATE is based out of Wilmington, however, my internship is mostly virtual due to COVID. The program held a virtual art show and auction that raised over $3000. I learned so much about the participants and the program in general, and I was lucky enough to be able to bid on some of the work. Here are some photos of what I won!
March of the Penguins, created by Anna
Forever Friends, created by a MeadowWood Program Student
Group Art Therapy Session - 6/17/21
Today I was able to attend my first group art therapy session as an intern! The participants were tasked with decorating toilet paper rolls, but it was kept open, so if they wanted to do something else they could! The most important thing is that they feel creative and in control! During this time I got to talk to some of the participants and hear their stories, while I created a portrait of myself and my partner using acrylic paint pens!
Zoom screenshot of the group session
Life Is Colorful With You, created by me using acrylic paint pens
Group Art Therapy Session - 6/24/21
Today I attended this week's group session. We had even more participants this week which was great! The lesson today was inspired by famous American artist, Dale Chihuly, who is disabled himself after an accident causing him to go blind in one eye. The assignment was to draw on coffee filters with washable markers and then spray them with water. It was really interesting to see because everyone's designs came out so different even though they all had the same task. I really loved being able to talk to more of the participants and to learn more about a famous artist. After each session we have a little show and tell so everyone can see others' artwork. This part of the session always puts the biggest smile on their faces which makes it my favorite part! Additionally, the caregivers are really great at helping the participants be able to create art, and the use of adaptive technology was also a big help for some of them who have physical disabilities. Later on this summer, I will be conducting research with a few of the participants and their caregivers about their adaptive technology! For now though, I added some pictures of the participants with their artwork from today's session!
Sean and his mom
Marissa
Melissa and her mom
Geoffrey
Starting the Adaptive Technology Research - 6/27/21
I am researching adaptive technology for 3 of our participants: Haley, Sean, and Marissa. All of them have very different disabilities. So it will be a good range. I will be sending out a google form which I have attached images of here, and I will likely interview their parents/caregivers over zoom. The form and scheduling for interviews are still in the works as of now, but we are making a great start!
Group Art Therapy Session- 7/1/21
In today's session, the participants were tasked with using paint and any other materials to create little characters out of crushed soda cans. They all came out great, and everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves!
Zoom screenshot of everyone working hard in the group session
Sean and his mom presenting their creation!
Individual Art Therapy Session - 7/1/21
In addition to attending the group session yesterday, I also had the privilege of leading an individual art therapy session for Lora, one of the participants. We will be meeting weekly for the summer from now on. Yesterday Lora made a pretty abstract painting using a cut up toilet paper roll as her paint brush. She was so motivated and even when she wanted to give up, she didn't and she kept creating even after her power went out from the storm! Overall, it was a successful session despite some hiccups, and I really look forward to working with her each week!
Google image of the technique Lora used yesterday Photo credit: https://kidactivitieswithalexa.com/en/paint-toilet-paper-rolls/
Individual Art Therapy Session - 7/5/21
Today I had planned for us to try string painting, but Lora was not feeling well, so we just chatted instead! Throughout working with Lora, I learned that sometimes the participants don't necessarily want to make art and they'd rather just have a friend to talk to. Having disabilities, physical or intellectual, can feel very isolating, so it is good that they have this program where they can make friends both with other participants and the staff/interns.
Organizing the Studio Space - 7/7/21
Today I spent 5 hours with my supervisor and Tanya, the mother of our participant Anna, in the studio. We worked on cleaning and organizing as much of the art supplies and artwork as we could! I also had the chance to talk to them about some adaptive technology ideas and even see some of the adaptive technology we already have there.
Studio space
Individual Art Therapy Session - 7/15/21
Today Lora and I worked on collaging magazine cut outs and drawing with pastels. Collaging is one of Lora's favorite things to do with her art, and she is very good at it too. She also combined the pastels and collage technique and made a collage of shapes with the pastels. And she did a self portrait during this session too.
Lora and her magazine collage
Lora and her collage of pastel shapes
Lora and her pastel self portrait
Working on the Adaptive Technology Research Presentation - 7/19/21
Today and this last week, I've spent a lot of time working on my research presentation about adaptive technology. So far, I was able to finish the introduction slides and the slides for the first participant, Haley Shiber.
Individual Art Therapy Session - 7/23/21
Today Lora had had a rough morning, so we just took it easy and chatted a bit. Sometimes she gets frustrated with her art if it's not going her way, so it is important for her that we only work on art when she is having a good day. We just talked about life and her day and her plans for tomorrow. She also showed me her puppets and had some fun with those!
Working on the Adaptive Technology Research Presentation - 7/26/21
Today I got a good chunk of my research presentation done. I was able to research and finish the information for the second participant, Sean Guinivan, and connect with his mom Phyllis over the phone to get more information on some of the adaptive technology he already uses.
Group Art Therapy Session - 8/5/21
Today we had another group art therapy session. We worked on some printmaking with different household items like toilet paper rolls. The participants really seemed to enjoy this one!
Zoom screenshot of our last group session
Individual Art Therapy Session / Meeting with Supervisor - 8/13/21
Today I had my last session with Lora, and my supervisor Lisa Bartoli was there as well. Lora was doing some work with pom-poms, and was making a landscape with the grass and sun and water using green, yellow, and blue pom-poms, respectively. After she finished up her art, we just talked and said our goodbyes as this was the last time I would be meeting with Lora. Overall, I learned so much about Lora and art therapy this summer, and I was so grateful that I had the privilege to lead the individual sessions with her.
Finishing the Adaptive Technology Research Presentation - 8/22/21
Today I finished my research presentation! I finished the information for the 3rd participant, Marissa Guariano, and I completed the summary and future plans slides as well. This research was a huge part of my internship, and I was so glad I could help Art Therapy Express by doing it. This summer I researched different forms of adaptive technology for people with different disabilities and precautions/restrictions. We can then provide this research to the UD Biomedical Mechanical Engineer Seniors who will be able to create some of this technology for ATE and its participants. And with this information, not only can we help these 3 participants to be able to be more independent and have more fun and creativity with their art, but we can also apply this knowledge to a wider scale of people with similar disabilities and restrictions as the participants. This research could help a lot of people at Art Therapy Express, and surrounding schools, art therapy programs, hospitals, etc. so I was very excited to be able to take the lead on it! Overall, it was a great summer and internship experience, and I learned SO much!