Session 10am-1pm then 2pm-3.15pm
Co -facilitated with Jo from the charity in Dunfermline- the participants were all counsellors interested in introducing art journalling to clients ( 4 participants) Due to the small size of the group Jo and I worked together on a couple of exercises so that we gave the participants space
Start 10-11am I demonstrated how to make two simple journals (see previous blog post)
Jo suggested that we started by making a ‘safe page’ in the journals, ( one of the participants had been unable to attend the first session so we revisited magazine collages) . Some suggestions for ideas if clients don’t know where to start were – to do a page of your favourite colour, use words that suggest what your safe space might look like., use found images to create an image of your safe space
Group discussion 11-11.20
Coffee
Exercise 11.30-1pm
Demonstration- Jo and I explored how to use pastel and felt pen to express feelings – I drew whilst Jo prompted me to be reflexive about my mark making in front of the group ( at their request 10-15mins)
The group divided into pairs and had 25 mins each working as counsellor/ client in the medium of their choice- 3 used Patel and crayon, 1 person used collage.
Jo and I did the soft eye flicking through a magazine and chose words and phrases that appealed to us – I found that I had chosen the word ‘colour’ but my words lacked colour or were in black and white. So I added wax crayon and circled words that had more meaning to me than others
Group discussion
Lunch 1-2pm
Exercise 2-245pm
Before this session Jo and I discussed different ways that we could use collage in pairs – Jo suggested having a silent dialogue
We suggested that the participants worked in collage collaboratively in 2 journals at the same time so that they each had an example to take home – this diluted the experience a bit, some people found they had two seperate conversations. Jo has found it more intense if you just work on one page and watch as the other person makes their part of the conversation. Looking at body language and how images and text are placed on the page
Examples of conversations
1.
2.
2.45-3.15 pm Evaluation/ discussion
Jo fancied the group producing an evaluation of the session as collage/ mixed media. So we each produced an index card that illustrated how we felt about the session- one of the participants cards was two sided. (Mine is bottom right these sessions always make me very happy)
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