LifeScapes Art Interventions connect arts professionals with opportunities to practice and teach creative skills as a way to process, learn and develop a strong, healthy and successful approach to life. We work with young and grown in disenfranchised communities, mental health, and residential recovery settings, as well as conduct training workshops and retreats for business professionals.
The LifeScapes Method of connecting important skills through hands-on creative experiences was established in 1998. The benefits of the method are improved and expanded with every project that is designed to address specific needs. Through the years we have worked tirelessly with professional therapists, educators, and artists to access and address the creative process at play under numerous conditions and establish a framework in which self-esteem, willingness, follow-through, preparation, resourcefulness, confidence, and collaboration are developed and enhanced.
LifeScapes Art Partnerships
Many corporations have realized the value of using the creative approach in professional development seminars and workshops. Many companies too, have realized the importance of giving back to the communities in which they are located. LifeScapes Art Partnerships combines these two objectives to provide companies with training that enhances staff performance while they learn and practice key creative principles they will share as Creative Support Coaches.
Our work takes participants beyond their comfort zone. During these projects, adults and youth need support and encouragement. Creative support can give participants on both sides of the relationship, much needed on-the-spot validation as they work together under the direction of an arts professional trained in the practical and professional benefits of practicing creative disciplines.
To arrange and arts partnership call Pic Michel at 513.322-5655
There's more than
one way to look
at things
Sculpture projects are all about exploring other points of view. The young artist must learn how to walk around the subject, seeing it from every angle, and follow through on visions from each perspective. Adding other elements to the project standard of four pieces of wire, such as a plastic cup to facilitate dimension, allows the artist to spare wire for other uses and tests resourcefulness.
Each of these projects had several stages of planning, preparation and fulfillment. Each project required preparation in the form of pitching ideas and roughing out drawings to communicate needs and intentions so support could be offered and progress monitored. These works were sold at silent auction to an audience of invited guests and families who celebrated the youth's accomplishments as the youth celebrated their entrpreneurial arts experience.
Cat o' Eleven Tails represents the playfulness of all the cats this young artist ever loved
Freedom Sculpture was about a heritage of limitation, and desire for freedom not only in history but in his own life.
My Guitar was a true test of his collaboratve abilities and follow-through
Fred the elephant was made with this young artist's Aunt in mind. There was a lot of change going on for him at the time. It was a real accomplishment for him to stay focused for the four weeks (sixteen hours) it took to complete his sculpture.
Kicking Stalion had quite a temper, like his maker. Applying Papier Mache involves bi-lateral stimulation which has a calming influence. Young artists "painted" the sculpture with pieces with torn, hand-colored paper.
Art to Life Skills practiced in this project:
- willingness to try new things/stepping out of comfort zone
- engaging creative process/impact of plans on results
- keeping things in proportion to one another
- engaging and dealing with changing perspectives
- maximizing use of available resources
- working on a deadline
- follow-through on original concept
- willingness to alter original plans
- cooperating with others and asking for help
- visualizing whole from limited information
- incorporating life experiences into creative expression
- sharing process with others through artist statement
- accepting and positively acting on constructive criticism
- acknowledging positive feedback and building self-esteem
This summer project involved three weeks taking a series of photos depicting various forms of transportation and change.
Simple things involved in the process of taking pictures can convey some big life lessons...like getting close to the subject, making sure what you think you see matches what you're really capturing with the lens, not casting your own shadow on the subject, considering what message you're conveying with your efforts.
B&W copies of images were enhanced with colored pencils gave this young artist time to contemplate the meaning of his work as he prepared to format it in collage to communicate his journey.
Behind the
Pictures
Photography
Project
Group projects give kids a creative focus and let them share in a production bigger than their individual efforts, the product of working together cooperatively, Group projects also serve as the testing ground for skills and techniques young artists then demonstrate in their personal projects.
Our group spirit pole mixed media sculpture: paper over wire, fence, cardboard and wood, followed study of 19th century African masks and Pablo Picasso's abstracts. The completed work is 8+ feet high, has six faces (all resembling group participants) and two sets of wings.
When a 10 year old visitor proposed a race car project, he and a 14 year old "supervisor" who had been involved in other group projects, took on the task of producing designs and building the car in four days! The Mentoring Artist acted as the "foreman" and ran all power tools, making sure everything ran smoothly for the Detroit Designer Wannabe's. Safety Belts made from sweatshirt sleeves allowed the "driver" to be mobile without need of motor. Materials: paper, paste and paint over PVC conduit and cardboard frame.
Group Projects and Collaborations
Personal empowerment and enrichment through practice of creative disciplines
LifeScapes
ART
