Sometimes we need to look at things differently, with fresh eyes. Doing this allows us to take a new perspective, and opens the door to all the possibilities in life, including ones we may not have known existed. Creating art is a direct way to make this happen. When art-making, there is always the potential to see beyond what is in front of you. Turning what we make around and looking at it literally from different angles exposes us to new views.  When we describe through this lens it can take us into an ocean of meaningful metaphors shedding light on current situations. Tuning into the intricate details of our art making, the process and the product opens us to the moment, staying present with the visual wonders of our art. The ability to ground us through the different senses as we go through the process is another benefit of art making when we allow the process to lead us rather than force an outcome or final result which can only be reached intuitively.

This is where using found object for art making can be an amazing way to access new perspectives and make new connections through metaphors (often accidentally).

Bat and Megides (2016) identified four key features of found objects otherwise known as “ready made art” that can be accessed through this mode of creating:

1. the freedom from aesthetic conventions,
2. the approximation of reality in the space of art through re-location of real objects,
3. the integration of objects (some unrelated; some by accident), and
4.  playfulness and humor.  (p. 9)

Last week I was privy to witnessing the process of 2 groups of creatives who gave themselves permission to explore art-making in this way. The first workshop was held with the staff at a community arts centre for youth. We discussed the stereotypes of art and expectations we put on what art is.  Through discussion and the creative process these were challenged further as each staff participated in their own art-making exploring the many ways art can express one’s Self. In one of the exercises I asked the staff to gather some found objects to make a temporary sculpture representing the challenges and rewards of their work with the children and youth in their arts programs. As they each set out to make their temporary sculpture, without glue or tape, it was interesting to watch their determination and perseverance as some of them tried over and over to fix things in place only to have parts topple over.

When asked about the process later, the description revealed a beautiful metaphor for the work, both challenges and rewards: “I kept trying to put this in place and then it would fall apart, but I knew I had to keep trying, pick up the pieces and try again, and that was okay, it was part of it” (paraphrased). The process for many became a balancing act.  Something that often comes up for professional helpers.

For others the process of exploring art-making in this simple way brought surprising insights into their own perception of what art is after having introduced themselves as “non-artists” and then discovering their inner artist.  Art’s meaning became broadened to include the very important function of self-expression, something that is often overlooked in arts programming.  The theme of balance between the challenges and rewards of this work were also discussed as a group, with the recognition that without the experience of challenges, children and youth miss out on opportunities for movement.  Developing a growth mindset through creativity is all part of the process. Once we begin to model that “mistakes” are welcome, that this is part of life and learning and extending one’s creative and personal potential, the youth are able to experiment with the arts and express their unique selves, tapping into their strengths.

At the end of this workshop staff participants (many who had met for the first time that day given most work in different locations of the program), were invited to make a group sculpture of the strengths of their staff, families, children and youth whom they work with.  Using found objects and mixed media they set to work, primed from their earlier art-making experiences in the workshop.  The results were inspiring, demonstrating through process their interconnectedness, the respect with which they consulted each other, and the general ease with which they formed their sculpture together.

The second workshop I held last week was for my Creative Self-Care for Helping Professionals  monthly series. This workshop: Mindful Sculptures: Intro to junk sculpture for mindfulness and inner exploration was inspired by Judith Siano’s book Lost, Found and Rejected Objects in Art Therapy .   Participants were invited to explore the materials I set out using all of their senses, thus taking a mindfulness approach to art making rather than a planned art sculpture approach.  Once again I was amazed at the creative process at work, watching participants be lead by the process rather than getting overly caught up in the end product.  As above, all gave permission for me to share their artwork.  I share it below in hopes of demonstrating the vast variations in creating with found objects.

An invitation to explore:

• What metaphors or themes show up in your day-to-day life?
• Are there any found objects that you hold dear?
• What would happen if you combined these with other object or changed it in some way?
• What are some possible new ways of looking at these themes or metaphors that show up in your surroundings?

References

Bat Or, M. , Megides, O. (2016). Found Object/Readymade Art in the Treatment of Trauma and Loss. Journal of Clinical Art Therapy, 3(1),  retrieved from: http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/jcat/vol3/iss1/3

Siano, J. (2016) Lost, Found, and Rejected Objects in Art Therapy.  Available at Caversham Book Sellers  or order the book via e-mail from judithsiano@gmail.com