taking arts seriously -gayle bluebird webinar 1: … › 2014 › 02 › webinar_021914...taking...

Taking Arts Seriously - Gayle Bluebird Webinar 1: 2/19/2014

iNAPS Webinar 2014 Series 1

iNAOP’S Webinar

February 19th, 2014

12:00-1:00pm

Gayle Bluebird, RNArtwork by:

Knicoma Frederick

Creative Arts Factoryhttp:www.artsdel.org/services/mezzanine.shtml

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�Art was used to reflect anger, outrage,

protest, and political ideology

�Posters

�Newsletters

�Chants

�Songs

�Music

�Poetry

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� A National Newsletter

published from the

1970s to the 80s.

Cover by:

Tanya Tempkin

Berkley, CA

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� Creativity is defined as the tendency to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others.

(From Human Motivation, 3rd ed., by Robert E. Franken)

� “Creativity is the outward manifestation of what one feels inside,” or “it is the ability to bring something new into existence by seeing things in a new way.”

� Bluebird thinks of creativity as “soul inspiration”--- a bubbling up inside of us that begs for our recognition.

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Creativity

Creativity

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• Can be a potent form of communication

• A self-help approach to overcoming obstacles

• Focuses on feelings, thoughts and ideas

• Lets us express things we cannot express in

words

• Comes directly from our imagination

• Can transform tragedy to triumph

• For sake of enjoyment- engages our senses

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� Engaging in art can:

� Change a person’s physiology and attitude

� Change the immune system and blood flow to all the organs

� Free our immune system to operate optimally

� Transform a person’s outlook and way of “being in the

world”

� Art is now recognized as helpful to healing

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� First research project by and for

mental health clients in California

� 500 persons interviewed

� 61 Percent of clients stated

creativity essential to their well-

being

� 24 percent stated they lacked

creativity in their lives

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“Touched with Fire: Manic Depressive illness and the

Artistic Temperament”

Book looked at many historic artists:

� Found many suffered from major depression and

manic depression

� Another study looked at 47 British artists:

� Found that 38% had been treated for a mood disorder

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Study of nine artists with mental illness:

�Looked at their artistic process

�Found they did art as a means of self-

expression and to share their beliefs and

values

�Study showed a striving for emotional

wellness, not psycho-pathology

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Healing Themselves with Art

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Once a Broadway performer, Wambui later created a one-woman show ”Balancing Act” based on her mental health experiences. She has also written an enlightening memoir, “You Don’t Know Crazy,” which describes how she found inspiration and exhilaration out of despair.

www.wambui-bahati.com

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Jerome is a talented and nationally recognized artist known for his works of beauty and color; The painting at the right went for $22,000 at an auction to benefit the Carter Center in Atlanta, GA. (2013)

www.jeromelawrence.net

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“Beginning meets end at all points between”

Michael writes songs on issues related to his childhood abuse and on spirituality, hope, love and recovery. He has written, recorded and published three CDs of his music; he also speaks on the prevention of childhood sexual, mental and physical abuse. Art is his primary source of income.

www.michaelskinner.net

www.survivingspirit.com

www.michaelskinnermusic.com

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“Drag with a Tag”

Mark created his act to educate and

raise consciousness about being gay,

living with HIV, and mental health

issues. Mark received a “VOICE”

award in Los Angeles in 2009.

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From

“The Entertainer Series”

Sharon is not only an accomplished visual

artist, but a talented dancer 23

From

“The Dancer Collection”



Meghan’s transformative art

evokes strong emotions

when viewing it, from the

very deep and painful to the

light and joyful. “My life has

been rather raw and hard to

look at but I have tried to

make it into something that

has beauty…and art has

done that for me.”

www.meghancaughey.com

“Hugging Form”

From Meghan’s early work

“Lotus with Sparks”

From Meghan’s

Lotus Series later

in Recovery

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Examples:• Drumming Circles• Note card Projects• “Arts and Wellness” Carnivals• Decorating Comfort Rooms• Entrepreneurship• Recovery Related Arts Projects• Arts Guidebook• Community Art Exhibits• Peer Run Art Centers

(the list is endless)

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A self-help arts guide

published in 2000 with funds

from CMHS with information

that is still relevant and helpful

to mental health consumers

today

www.alteredstatesofthearts.com

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The Mural Project

28http://thecreativevisionfactory.org/

Definition:

The Comfort Room, formerly called the “Quiet” or “Time-Out” room, is a room that provides sanctuary from stress. It can be a place where people can experience their feelings within acceptable boundaries.

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Zen Room, Ft. Lauderdale Hospital, FL Western State Hospital, Tacoma, WA



30The Drop Zone, Delaware Psychiatric Center

The Second Step Players theatre troupe creates and performs educational sketch comedy about mental health issues for the purpose of educating the public and reducing stigma. The Players have been ambassadors in community education and advocacy since 1985.

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Ones you can do

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�Be a unique and

creative dresser with

color, combinations

of colors, that attract

attention.

�Let your attire be a

conversation piece.

Dara HagansInpatient Peer Specialist

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�Use casual words

�Give someone a high five

�“Hey Bro, What's Up?”

�Be a person not a title

�Find out a person’s interests/hobbies/strengths

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� Word Search/Crossword puzzles

� Joke of the Day

� Small Journal

� Stuffed Animal

� Package of Tissues

� Small Notebook

� Stress Ball

� Affirmation/Fortune

(Arts Materials depending on the audience)

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• Created in 2011

• Written, and designed by Peer Support.

• In easy-to-understand language.

• Illustrated with national artists’artwork.

• Designed for persons receiving services… and others

“Hugging Form”Meghan Caughey 36

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•Easy Project to do

•Presented at Peer Conferences in MT, MD, NYC, NJ, TX



� “If pillows could talk, they would

� tell a story of our struggles …”

� Reflects issues of recovery & effects of stigma

� A traveling exhibit of poetry & art on pillowcases that

is now called “Pillows of Hope”

� A clothesline exhibit you can do!

www.alteredstatesofthearts.com

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� Altered States of the Arts www.alteredstatesofthearts.com� ARTREACH – Second Step Players Theater Group,

www.artreachheals.org� Bahati, Wambui www.wambui-bahati.com� Campbell, J., The Well-Being Project,

http://mimh200.mimh.edu/mimhweb/pie/database/GetArticle.asp?value=1601

� Caughey, Meghan www.meghancaughey.com� Lawrence, Jerome www.jeromelawrence.net� Skinner, Michael www.mskinnermusic.com

www.michaelskinner.net� Wise, Sharon [email protected]� Graham-Pole, J. (2000). Illness and the art of creative self-expression. New Harbinger

Publications,Inc.: Oakland, CA

� Jamison,K.R. (1993). Touched with fire: manic depressive illness and the

artistic temperament. New York: Simon & Schuster

Panter, B.M.,M.L.; Visrhup,A.T.R.; and Visrhup,B. (Eds). (1995) Creativity

and madness: psychological studies of art and artists, Burbank,CA: Aimed

Press

� The SAH.org/resources/biblio.cfm (Society of Arts in Healthcare)

� Spaniol,S.E. (July 1990). Exhibit in art by people with mental illness: issues,

process and principles, Art Therapy, pp.70-78

� The Awakenings Project, Chicago, IL: www.theawakeningsproject.org

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Gayle Bluebird

Director, Peer Services

Mental Health Association (MHA),

Delaware Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH)

Office: (302)255-2701

E-Mail: [email protected]

Alteredstatesofthearts.com

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Special thanks to Optumfor their ongoing support of

this series and their dedication to

quality in the practice of peer support



I’m hired. Now what? is the title of the

March 19 webinar. The session will cover

peer support values, appropriate tasks

and job descriptions.

Go to our website: www.inaops.org

for up-to-date information



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To receive a certificate of participation for this

webinar, please go to our website: www.inaops.organd take the brief quiz.

Certificates will be issued in about two weeks.

taking arts seriously -gayle bluebird webinar 1: … › 2014 › 02 › webinar_021914...taking...

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