March is Youth Art Month

It is Youth Art Month.  If I rewind a couple years I used to spend a great deal of time with kids, but since starting grad school it has been less.  Last year I interned a little more with children and now I only spend a couple hours each Friday with kids, and sometimes we do get to do art.

I presented at  a local art therapy conference in Emporia, Kansas today called Discovery Day.  Two other students and myself presented on work we did in Nassau, Bahamas with children at the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled (BAPD).  I finally updated the etsy website I created to benefit the children with disabilities at the BAPD and have it up and running.

What will YOU do this March for Youth Art Month?

"Just art", from the mouth of a babe!

This video clip shows how newer research is trying to prove that art therapy helps to heal patients in a medical setting.  This is harder to prove in with evidence based practice, which means providing scientific proof. HOWEVER, stated firm and clear from a child, nothing else helps him feel better, "Just art".  Tracy Councill who is featured in this video will be the keynote presenter speaking at the Discovery Day Conference, tomorrow! Hope to see you all there.

Master's project mural is finished and hanging!

For the past two weeks I have been working on the process of my master's project, which is the fun part!  I wrote the first two chapters (literature review and design) and proposed to my committee.  The mural process began and now it is complete.  It is hanging at the day services facility and it looks marvelous. Adults with developmental disabilities proudly stood by there completed work today and took pictures with a first year in my graduate program, Kristi (who helped me a ton through this process) and myself.  Check out the photos!  Now I am finishing the last two chapters and next month I defend and in May I graduate. It is all so exciting.

snowpeople

The snow is melting. Over the past couple weeks I was able to capture some fun photos of snowpeople around town. Enjoy like I did.

in costume

with color

the biggest one I saw (but fallen over, so sad)

same as above but for perspective

a family

Happy snowpeople sighting!

how do you make friends?

A friend and classmate showed me this great video. 

These people met by hopping in a ball pit! 

Take a look.

What do you unplug for?

Do you celebrate the National Day of Unplugging?  I was sent an article with some house ideas.  In it, I found out about this National Day.  Do you take the time to enjoy your environment?

3Doodler bicycle?

Check out the newest creation from the 3Doodler that the Chief Doodler designed.  Want to back the project? It looks like it would be fun to draw in the air.