Two More Bundles

Here are two more bundles, created today while discussing my research direction and what is most important. It was great to be in the studio with my colleagues and I think I have found a way to keep on track- looking forward to January to revise my pilot study and literature review- I also think I have a strong idea of who I'd like to have as the third person for my committee, which is a relief. I 'm also realizing again how important it is to meet with my cohort to review where I am both personally and professionally with the research design. After reading Dissanayake's "Homo- Asestheticus" and Modell 's work in " Imagination and the Meaningful Brain" I'm compelled to bring other components into the mix; adding neuroscience and art as a biological behavior with children's art making, metaphor, and attachment. The conversation widens and expands !

"Recognizing art as a biological need can give us not only a way to better understand art, but by understanding art as a natural part of us, we can understand ourselves to be part of nature" (Dissanayake, 1995, p.34)

Dissanayake, E. (1995). Homo aestheticus. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.

Bundles with Natural Found Objects and Fiber

I created these bundles with a vigor, quickly and whilethinking with my hands. It was a very kinesthetic experience, it was so enjoyable to wrap and to swaddle these materials. I think this is a part of continuing my materials exploration in finding the just right materials to offer my research participants, it keeps me connected to the work in a spontaneous yet aesthetic way.

Artist/Therapist International Post Card Exchange

As a way to re-enter my blogging for research I'm going to begin with art that I created as a part of an exchange with other art therapists around the globe, this was organized by Art Therapy Without Borders. I created a total of 23 postcards, I worked on them, in part, while I was at the AATA conference in Sacramento the first week of November. I stayed with the materials as I created these small works and let the materials lead me, I enjoyed the mixing of media, especially the graph paper, white watercolor crayon and pencil. There are some forms that relate to nests, pods, weaving and connecting, protection and communication, these are all concepts I am exploring in my pilot study and contributes to the final qualitative research design.

PhD Meeting and Art Making

This Sunday I met with my PhD group, that has not met for a while. Meeting again, sharing our thought process, our evolving ideas, obstacles, and moments of clarity was immensely helpful, I feel a little more accepting of "simmering" or percolating for the moment, knowing I have 3 more classes to complete to fully find a form for my research. Above are two images, the lower image I created while I was with my colleagues and friends and the above is the same piece after working on it a bit more in my studio. I don't know what else to say other than when I began to add the darker elements the white areas became more known. I have been reading Husserl this week so his statement that there is "presence in absence" is alive for me.

Nested Textures

I began to review photographs that I have taken recently. Realizing that I am attracted to texture and in particular the texture of these nested barnacles and soft, slippery, mushy mossy rocks. The colors interest me and invite me in deeper. The barnacles remind me of colonies, stacked houses, close knit families and inseparable friendships, of interconnection, and the strength and fragility of relationships.

ATC Artist Trading Cards

Above are a series of four ATC or Artist Trading Cards that I created for a swap with other artists/art therapists. I enjoyed creating them and allowed the materials I chose to guide the process. Creating these was also a reminder of how important the process of art making is to my practice and to who I am. As for my research I am truly feeling stuck. Stuck. I'm not sure how I want to continue which sends me into a space where I begin to think about all the different directions and paths I could possibly take, unfocused. I'm going to create some art around my research topic and hope that it rejuvenates me as these ATCs did.

The above image is from http://www.luzinterruptus.com/
It 's a beautification/installation project by Luzinterruptus in Madrid titled Urban Nest, the link was forwarded to me and is initally from the website Dudecraft, just to keep the resources clear http://www.dudecraft.com/2010/08/urban-nests.html

I will likely comment more on this project soon, however for just now here's the image, link and info.