Juneteenth is now a Federal Holiday. Celebrating the word of freedom finally reaching the Slaves in Texas. Ending that system forever! Educators, Curriculum Coordinators, Serious Collectors, and readers will love the books and products being offered starting June 19th at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art.

 Its fantastic and unique historic group exhibition, "Chicago Comics: 1960 until Now!" features an intelligent, well designed, dynamic, and a truly diverse selection of visually charged books and related products that celebrate and explore contributions and creative expressions of Blacks, African Americans, LatinX, LGBTQ, and Asian practicing artists, writers & cartoonists. What a great way to expand positive appreciation and respectful curiosity in students of all levels for these people and cultures that often exist outside of standard curriculum guides and teaching scenarios.

 Did I say "Juneteenth"? What about for birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa too. Early gift buying is another way to boost the collections and options for avid or reluctant readers while serving up creative diversity in real time. This historic exhibition runs from Juneteenth until Oct. 13th 2021. Perfect for field trips and educational resourcing. Not to mention great fun and artistic excitement for every one else. See you at the MCA! https://mcachicago.org/.../2021/Chicago-Comics-1960s-To-Now

 

Making Art Helps.......

The above image was created in an Art Therapy session using clay & markers.  The "Making Art Helps" link is to an article supporting the value in therapy and wellness of art making regardless of one's skill level.

Art Therapy Link

Art therapy is finally being taken seriously as a tool for boosting health!

A new World Health Organization report lends  "heft and credibility" but it's only scratching the surface. 

1. Students in a workshop at the Logan Center per the University of Chicago Campus.

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 How Art Impacts Learning Outcomes.

What makes art such a great teaching tool? 

Art engages children's senses in open-ended play and develops Cognitive, Social, Emotional and Sensori-Motor skills. Art is a cooperative learning experience that provides pleasure, challenge, and a sense of mastery. Instruction in the arts is one of the best ways in which to involve the different modes of learning; through art, children learn complex thinking skills and master developmental tasks (Belden & Fessard, 2001).

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 2. Students in a workshop at the Blackstone Library.

 3. Making art at the Chicago Children's Museum.

 4. Drawing Godzilla at the Blackstone Library.

5. Drawing at the First Aid Comic Book Store.

(The above studio practice workshop pictures of 

art making activities led by Prof. Turtel Onli, M.A.A.T.

are presented for educational purposes and must not be reproduced or shared.)

LONDON.- West Sussex Record Office and Outside In have been awarded a grant from the Wellcome Trust of £46,023 to preserve an archive which offers a rare insight into the use of art therapy as a form of treatment.

Outside In is a charity which supports artists who find it difficult to access the art world for reasons including health, disability, isolation or social circumstance.

 

The Vawdrey Archive comprises approximately 194 paintings produced by patients in art therapy sessions run by Dr Brian Vawdrey between 1951 to 1971 and a copy of Vawdrey’s illustrated thesis, ‘Art in Analysis’.

The archive is an unusual record of early art therapy work which provides an important insight into the therapeutic process and has the potential to offer a unique perspective on the development of art therapy as a discipline.

This funding will enable the Record Office, in partnership with Outside In, to catalogue, preserve, and digitise this archive, eventually making the catalogue and digitised images available online.

A series of consultation sessions involving Outside In artists who have had lived experience of mental health issues will enhance and enrich the catalogue – a new and innovative way of approaching medical and hospital archives.

Debbie Kennard, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities, said: “Our Record Office does an amazing job when it comes to preserving and archiving unique collections such as these.”

Wendy Walker, County Archivist at West Sussex Record Office said: “This funding will enable us to preserve a unique archive that will provide a fascinating insight into the role of art therapy at a critical stage in the understanding of mental health in the 1950s and 1960s.

“I am delighted that we will be able to explore this archive with Outside In, contemporary artists, academic colleagues and health care professionals and develop innovative ways to make it accessible to new audiences today.

“We are extremely grateful to the Wellcome Trust for all of their support in making this happen”.

Marc Steene, Director of Outside In, said: “Outside In is extremely excited to be working with the West Sussex Record Office on this highly innovative project.

“Enabling Outside In artists, with a lived experience of mental health issues, to be given the opportunity to guide and be consulted in the archiving of this incredibly fragile and rare collection of patient art work will provide important learning for all.

“We are also delighted to continue our relationship with the Wellcome Trust and thank them for their support with this project.”