Multi-disciplinary workshops that engage inquiry, observation, and expressive response in art making. Group participants experience social connection and independent decision making. 

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Check-in and Welcome: Sitting in a circle, we share our names. This helps ensure that each participant feels recognized and welcomed. We take turns describing something we like about a topic such as the weather, this day. All expressions that members contribute are affirmed by being repeated around the circle and include playful hand gestures. Generally, this Welcome activity moves directly into Collaborative Story Creation.

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Collaborative Story Creation: We look slowly and deliberately at a piece of art (photo, painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.), and we talk about what we see in the artwork and perhaps, how it makes us feel. We also share what the artwork prompts us to imagine. As we do, we begin to collaboratively build a story or poem. For members who are less verbal, contributions can take forms like a gesture, sound or facial expressions. I say, “Yes, and ...” in response to each and every contribution, and we build on the idea just expressed. (“Yes, and ...” is a guiding principle when working collaboratively in a group). As the collective story takes shape, I write down the narrative. Once we’re finished, we decide together on a title for our story.  Only then do I reveal details about the artist and the artwork we observed. I find that this enriches the group members’ appreciation of the piece of art and of their newly-born story. Because participating doesn’t require knowledge of art or the abilities to remember or speak about art, this story creation exercise is decidedly free of shame about memory loss and other personal limitations. Participants are always amazed and delighted by this story-building exercise.

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Art Making: The Collaborative Story Creation exercise leads directly into an artmaking session in which each participant is supported or guided as they create with collage, sewing, painting, drawing, printmaking, or small sculpture. I notice how much participants enjoy the opportunity to make their own choices while creating art. They title their artworks in the same spirit that the collaborative story was titled, and artworks are exhibited for all to view. Participants share their responses in a way that accepts, affirms, and enhances their connection with each other. If the community’s physical space permits, I can later create an exhibit of the artworks for others to enjoy. This offers the possibility of even more discussion – another way to enrich minds and memory and also to value the works of the participants.​

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