Latest news with #creativeexpression
Arab News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Atlas of World Embroidery'
Author: GILLIAN VOGELSANG-EASTWOOD Embroidery is one of the world's most widely shared forms of creative expression—and one of its most varied and diverse. It can be found in every region, yet its visual languages, themes, and techniques vary greatly: Some are marked by unique styles and others show influences from neighboring cultures. 'The Atlas of World Embroidery' examines many distinctive embroidery styles and traditions found across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I stopped telling my kids not to draw on their bodies with markers. Sometimes I even encourage it.
At one time, I discouraged my children from drawing on their bodies with markers. Now, I allow them to do it as a form of creative expression. Washable markers make cleanup easy and the activity fosters independence and imaginative play. My kids, 3 and 5, sometimes get a little wild with markers. They turn craft time into body art time, and honestly, I'm okay with that. The first few times it happened, I was somewhat reluctant. I knew my husband wasn't a fan, especially when the kids drew glasses around their eyes (what if they poked their eyes?), and it just didn't seem like the best habit. But now, I allow it, as long as we're not about to leave the house. Coloring on themselves is a great activity to escape the summer heat or when it's too windy to play outside. It's simple, basic fun — no screens involved. In a sense, it's not all that different from using face paints or when little girls sneak into their mom's makeup and are discovered looking like clowns. It's a way of dressing up and becoming an artistic character. When my kids drew circles around their eyes, I happily thought they could have fit into the pages of the classic children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are." And they're practicing drawing shapes, letters, and stick people, so it's semi-educational, right? We have a few brands of kids' washable markers in our house, and they all wash off pretty easily. I prefer them over crayons or colored pencils in general because if they wind up on the table, the marker wipes right off. I enjoy doing crafts and baking with my kids, which can cause quite the mess. Drawing on themselves only involves a bath or shower (which they probably needed anyway) for cleanup. It's even less messy than cutting with scissors, as my daughter will cut every piece of paper into tiny specks that wind up all over the floor. Minimal prep is needed, so marker play is a tool in my back pocket for whenever we need an activity at a moment's notice. My children are really happy coloring each other, without bickering — maybe it's the feeling of being in cahoots or doing something vaguely "naughty." My daughter will ask my son to draw a rainbow on her back, or they'll both draw smiley faces on their feet. One day, my son drew lines on his arms and legs to make himself look like a skeleton. I want to encourage imaginative play, and they use this activity as an outlet to create their own stories together. When we do other art projects, they tend to work more independently, but when they draw on themselves, they're almost always interacting with each other. When our son was around nine months old, we visited friends who had recently had their third baby. They were getting ready to go to Costco after we left, and one of the boys was wearing a superhero costume. My husband thought it odd that they were allowing him to wear a costume out in public (it was not Halloween), but as a parent, some battles aren't worth fighting. Wearing costumes and drawing on their bodies are both imaginative story play, and they're both safe options for letting the kids express themselves. I'm down for both. Marker play makes my children happy, the stakes are low, and I think that allowing my kids to make some of the decisions fosters independence and learning. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Newly launched Polk Collaborative aims to integrate the arts with health
Polk County has launched the Polk Arts & Health Collaborative, a cross-sector alliance dedicated to enhancing individual and community well-being through the integration of arts and health. Modeled after the national NeuroArts Blueprint, an initiative from Johns Hopkins University and Aspen Institute, PAHC opens with a Lakeland Chapter, Watson Clinic said in a news release. The Watson Clinic Foundation's Arts in Medicine program will serve in the new alliance. 'We are proud to align our local vision with the momentum of the national NeuroArts movement,' Tiffany Van Wieren, the Watson Clinic Foundation's Arts in Medicine Program Coordinator, said in the release. 'This collaborative will amplify existing efforts while also inviting new partners to explore how creative expression can support healing, resilience, and connection in our community while also elevating the research behind this movement.' Joining the Watson Clinic Foundation's Arts in Medicine Program in the initiative are the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, Florida Southern College, Lakeland Vision, Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, Orlando Health, Mayor's Council on the Arts and the Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance. The initial phase of PAHC will focus on identifying programs, individuals and institutions currently integrating arts and health throughout Polk County, the release said. The mission of PAHC will not only recognize existing work but will also serve as a gateway for curious individuals and organizations to learn about NeuroArts and to join the collaborative, sparking fresh initiatives and innovative partnerships in previously unengaged sectors. Any organization or individual with interest in joining the collaborative should contact Tiffany Van Wieren at 863-603-4718 or AIM@ For more information on PAHC, visit This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk Arts & Health Collaborative launches Arts in Medicine program
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Berkshire performing arts centre for autistic students opens
A residential school for young people with autism has opened what it believes to be the UK's first performing arts centre designed to meet the needs of autistic Court, near Thatcham in Berkshire, said the new facility would support more autistic people to access the arts - with many finding traditional venues school, which provides year-round residential care and education for children with complex needs, fundraised £1.1m to build the new Robinson, who is a performing arts teacher at the school, said her students were "the most creative people I have ever worked with". Speaking following the new centre's first performances, Ms Robinson explained that there were "a lot of overwhelming sensory experiences" at traditional arts said the venues required those with autism to "supress the need to express themselves", which they "need to do that in order to emotionally regulate"."It's a whole set of these social rules that need to be adjusted for our young people," she school said the new centre would provide a space for students to "express themselves creatively in a dedicated, bespoke space". It added that the space would also be used to research how to provide greater access to the arts, as well as to prepare students to visit more traditional new space officially opened on Thursday, with special performances from students. Ms Robinson told the BBC: "This is a building where we want them to walk in and to be respected as artists, because their difference is what every artist strives to be."They are original, they are unique, they don't think outside the box - they completely reshape the box entirely."Alan Lawrence, whose son Jamie attends the school, said he was "very proud" seeing him perform. "Prior's Court has been our saviour," he said. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
CTV News
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Art show features work by Calgary's marginalized and vulnerable
There's an art show that's taking place this weekend where all the work is from Calgary's vulnerable population. It's hosted by the My Friend Dave project. Calgarians are invited to an art show this weekend in the community of Glenbrook showcasing projects created by members of My Friend Dave. My Friend Dave is a local program that gives a voice to vulnerable and marginalized Calgarians through writing, art and documentary filmmaking. The group is made up of more than two-dozen people who gather at a park in Glenbrook every Monday. In most cases, they're people who've slipped through society's cracks. 'We're supporting them and telling their stories through creative expression,' said My Friend Dave co-founder Jennifer Seniuk. 'It's not just one kind of art; we have someone that's coming out who's cooking for his creative expression, we have people that are creating music for their creative expression, then there's sculptures and paintings.' Seniuk started My Friend Dave last May with and Dave Lanza. Seniuk is an art therapist, and Lanza was unhoused and wanted a way to share his story. The two quickly formed a bond, and with Lanza's outgoing personality, the project quickly grew with others who wanted an opportunity to share their stories as well. 'They are marginalized folks, vulnerable folks,' she said. 'So they could have just been incarcerated, they could be living rough, living outside, they could be moving through sobriety and trying to get their life back on track – anyone and everyone that identifies as marginalized and vulnerable.' Lanza died May 5, a tragedy that hit those involved in the project hard. To celebrate his life, the art show will feature a memorial space looking at the legacy he's left behind. 'We'll talk about Dave and how this project has taken on a new meaning,' Seniuk said. 'He was really sick for a long time, and he didn't let anyone know what was going on because I don't think he wanted anyone to know and [treat him] differently.' My Friend Dave The My Friend Dave art show takes place at 4053-4065 Glenpark Cres. S.W. on Saturday, June 14 from 12 to 4 p.m. Brothers Steve and Dennis Dionne, both of whom are unhouse, have been regulars at the Monday meetings for four months now. They were long-time friends of Lanza, and referred to him as 'super Dave.' 'He had the kindest heart, you know, he was a beautiful man. He didn't have much, but he always gave what he had,' Dennis said. 'People say the homeless are more giving than the people that have money,' Steve added. 'Because we take care of ourselves, we're family together.' My Friend Dave Participants of the 'My Friend Dave' project work to set up walls where their art will be displayed for the group's first art show. Jay Blondeau spent time on the streets and is now living in an unfinished basement. He's helping set everything up for the art show, and says he enjoys being part of this community. 'I started coming to these and meeting all the homeless people, they're not as far off as what people think you know, they're actually quite nice people,' he said. 'Each has their own little story like everybody else and for some reason they're here, there and everywhere.' My Friend Dave Jason Laplante has his own home now, but says he spent time in jail and lived on the streets. Lanza got him involved in the project because he has a car and could drive some of the others around when they needed a ride. 'I have these guys who are like family to me,' he said. 'My family disowned me when I was 15 years old, I grew up in foster care, in group homes.' Laplante is showing some of the sketches he made while being incarcerated. 'I'm having a lot of anxiety about that because I know there's going to be criticism and that I'm going to be judged on my work,' he said. 'Half the reason I'm doing this art show is Dave, and the other half with my ex-wife telling me to put my art out there because she even says I'm pretty good.' The art show takes place at the Glendale Crescent park, located at 4053-4065 Glenpark Cres. S.W., on Saturday, June 14 from 12 to 4 p.m. 'We've got lots of food vendors,' said Seniuk. 'Who doesn't want to eat some food and look at art on a Saturday afternoon?'
