Who We Are
WHO WE ARE NOT:
Our sevices are not meant to provide a clinical diagnosis. We do not replace psychological treatment – we provide a complimentary service, an additional therapeutic modal for anyone interested in the health and healing benefits of the process of art and art-making and creativity.
WHO WE ARE:
We are professional expressive/therapeutic art practitioners, artists, teachers, activists, facilitators, business owners and consultants.
What we do:
We provide holistic arts-based workshops/classes/groups/one-on-one sessions.
We provide art programs for the purpose of increasing well-being.
How do we serve:
Art InDeed offers sessions using simple art materials. In a non-judgmental space participants can freely express and explore their thoughts, feelings and creative self with the art materials. We can have fun and/or deal with difficulties or issues. We can stay light or go deep within. We are there to ensure safety, and spontaneous, in-the-moment, authentic expression. The sessions also offer opportunities to trust your own intuition. Participants can feel whole, healthy, calm and renewed. No art skill is necessary. Participants experience amazing art, growth, and insight.
What materials we use:
Paint
Pastels, oil and chalk
Pencils, markers, crayons
Collage
Clay
Wire
Wood and found objects
Paper
Dreams
Mandalas
Masks
Story-telling
Symbols
Archetypes
Rituals
Music
Movement
Visualizations
Meditations
Fun interactive games
Sand and Sandtray
What do we mean when we say “holistic and therapeutic?”
“the expressive and therapeutic art are those activities in which creative expression fosters mental, physical and spiritual wellness.”
(Drs. Stephen and Ellen Levine)
“the arts are a critical component of healthcare. Expressive art is a tool to explore, develop and practice creativity as a means to wellness.”
(Wellarts Association)
“the expressive arts emphasize an inter-modal approach to creative endeavor. The field is grounded not in specific techniques or media but in how the arts can respond to the multitude of human experience from life challenging situations to self-realization.”
(International Expressive Arts Therapy Association)
Creative activity has proven positive mental health benefits ranging from:
the development of self-expression, self-worth and self-esteem
providing opportunities for social contact and participation,
providing opportunities to inspire a sense of purpose, a sense of meaning and improved quality of life.
it offers a creative way to help develop coping skills, reduce anxiety or fears and articulate repressed feelings
Where do we serve:
In the past we have served at: Hospice of Windsor and Essex County, The Teen Health Centre, Maryvale Child and Family Services, House of Sophrosyne Rehabilitation Centre for Women, MS Society, St. Clair College, The City of Windsor, CAW Childcare Centre, The Sandwich Community Health Centre, Sunrise, Regency and Chateau Nursing Homes, The Inn For Girls, Centre for Seniors, The AIDS Committee of Windsor and Essex County, W.E.S.T, The Alzheimer’s Society of Windsor and Essex County, The Arts Council Windsor Region, Representational Artists Association, plus over 100 students who partake in private art classes from the community at large. We continue to service most of these organizations.
Expressive and Therapeutic Art With Seniors
Art InDeed provides a framework or an opportunity for a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s to express him/herself creatively. Our expressive art sessions take a holistic approach. We use art for the purpose of increasing well-being. The art sessions are used as stimulus and can affect and improve physical, emotional and spiritual conditions. The sessions foster playfulness, creativity, self-expression, enjoyment in the moment and up-lifting energy. The space and the art materials provided create an environment of freedom and play. The therapeutic art sessions may restore earlier abilities. The open, playful state created may connect clients with the unconscious mind to help recall memories and story, but it is not the main purpose of the sessions. It is always fun and can be revealing and healing.
Expressive and Therapeutic Art with Children and Teens
Art InDeed works with children in the general public and children of various ages, backgrounds and needs.
We work with children:
in foster care,
with special needs,
with learning difficulties and/or mental illnesses or disorders.
Children and adolescents don’t always have words to express what they are feeling and they are creative by nature – both of these make them well-suited for expressive art. Activities we offer engage the kids in a process that builds self-esteem as well as problem solving and life skills. Above all the sessions give the children an opportunity to freely express themselves; it is always fun and rewarding.
This creative process helps children:
access and explore their inner world and their feelings,
discover new talents,
try something new and learn something new about themselves
release pent-up emotions – freeing minds and hearts
be in the moment and feeling safe and having fun
problem solve
develop new skills
develop a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem and self-respect.
Expressive and Therapeutic Art With Adults and Community Groups
Art Indeed uses an inter-modal approach – incorporating games, music, story-telling and movement to express the self. During the sessions participants can:
Invest time and energy to create art.
Experience healing in the artistic process.
Increase their art skills.
Experience being inspired and feel successful.
Discover meaning and insights in their life through symbols and images.
Feel free – mind, body, emotions, spirit.
Have fun, explore and discover.
Release stress and anxiety and revive their mind, body and soul.
Expressive and Therapeutic Art:
Healing Addictions and Healing Illness
Our sessions provide an opportunity to get participants in touch with their inner self and with the creative inner self. The sessions always provides a form of expression for feelings that cannot be easily identified in words. We use various art activities as sacred journeys towards healing, for example working with Mandala, Labyrinth, Poetry, Story, Mask, SandPLAY, ColourPLAY, guided visualizations and many simple art materials. Art InDeed helps foster self-esteem and provides an opportunity to create new experiences beyond the illness or the
“ bad habits” and all the destructive and painful emotional patterns of the addict. It is an opportunity to help one recall and remember how playing creatively can help participants renew themselves and relax without drugs or alcohol.
Comments & Testimonials
WEST- Immigrant Women’s Center:
“Art class makes me feel like I’m in an outside world exploring things that I have never done before. It would be awesome to have more art classes in WEST. It helps us believe in our abilities and feeling confident. I was able to relax, create and explore my inner artist which I never thought I could.”
“I was so depressed before I attended this class. Then, I started to feel excited. It was a new experience for me. I learned a lot from this class. It was an enjoyable experience and a relief from daily stress.”
“It was a wonderful experience to share our spirits with women from different countries. We expressed out thoughts, beliefs and art from different cultures.”
Alzheimer Society:
“It helped relax the clients, they opened up about their past. I found it very interesting how the clients could see different images through their paintings.”
ColourPLAY- Private Course:
“Amazing balance of ‘chakra’ info and time to explore with colour and painting. Thank you Danah! You are inspiring and knowledgeable as a teacher and artist. I learned a lot and had so much fun!!”
“While I was painting all my other stresses disappeared because I become so absorbed in what I was doing. That was amazing! I learned a lot about myself through this course. Things that were not art related and that was unexpected but appreciated.”
Hospice:
“Danah made everyone in the course feel at-ease and very comfortable. Her passion for art beams through her and reflects on the whole class. Painting and being in a class-room environment made me feel like a kid again. I felt care-free and could put my life’s worries aside for a few hours.”
“This was much needed after treatment for cancer- to find the lightness & joy in life. I have been given more freedom to express myself in a creative manner. I thoroughly enjoyed this class and feel that it has opened a door for self-exploration and expression.”
“I felt total freedom in the group with open discussion and deep sharing that I enjoyed. We could really relate to each other and got to express ourselves in paint. It was carefree and healing. I had no worries or need to prove myself.”
“A great avenue to open up parts of me that I’ve buried. I look at things in a different light more openly and not so cynically and I now share this discovery with the many children I care for. I’m more creative with them and I see the world around me with more vision.”