Art for Cancer Wellness: Survivors Group with Em, Fall 2024
Workshop Title: Finding Meaning: Altered Book Workshop for Survivors
Facilitator: Em Jones, MA, LGPAT, ATR-P, BFA
Dates: Tuesdays, 7 PM to 8:30 PM ET
- September 17
- October 1
- October 15
- October 29
- November 12
- November 26
Workshop Description: In this autumn workshop series of six bi-weekly sessions facilitated by art therapist Em Jones, participants are invited to engage in the process of altered book art-making. Each week, group members will be guided to creatively explore their thoughts, feelings, and current experiences through creative themes with the aim of facilitating self-expression and self-understanding, fostering hope and strength, offering relaxation and mindfulness, and encouraging support in a creative and healing virtual group atmosphere.
No prior art experience is required for this group—participants are encouraged to work within their own comfort and skill level. Please be mindful that this is an art therapy group, not an art class, and is designed as a supportive group with creative therapeutic processing.
Workshop Materials: Participants will be provided with basic art-making materials as well as a hardbound book to optionally use for altering and a few assorted magazines to use for collage. Participants are welcome to use any other materials they have available to them for this workshop, including finding their own book for altering. Participants will also be given a small notebook for writing.
Specifically, materials may include:
- Hardbound book (one supplied or may bring one to group)
- Magazines and collage materials (e.g., tissue paper)
- Assorted art materials:
- Oil pastels
- Colored pencils
- Watercolor paint set and brushes (1 pack per participant)
- Tempera paint sticks
- Glue stick (1 per participant)
- Pencil (1 per participant)
- Lined journal for writing
Week-by-Week Overview: Each workshop will be structured as follows: check-in, introduction to theme, art-making, reflection writing, discussion, closing grounding exercise.
Week 1 — September 17: Altered Book (Myself, Right Now)
Participants will be introduced to the practice of altered book making and oriented
to materials. After a brief introspective and imaginative writing exercise, the group
will be guided to creatively explore the theme “Myself, Right Now” intended to
help explore and express thoughts and feelings related to their current
experience in the present moment.
Week 2 — October 1: Altered Book (Blackout Poetry)
Participants will be introduced to the practice of creating “Blackout Poetry” using
their altered book. Group members will be supported to create their own blackout
poem and use this as inspiration for creating an art in their altered book. Time will
be made for reflective writing that may support self-exploration and the formation
of insights about one’s art and experience.
Week 3 — October 15: Altered Book (Two Emotions)
The focus this week will be nonverbal exploration of one’s current feelings. After
a brief writing exercise to support imagination and introspection, group members
will be supported to create artwork that visualizes their current feelings. Time will be made for reflective writing that may support self-exploration and the formation
of insights about one’s art and experience.
Week 4 — October 29: Altered Book (Storytelling)
The focus this week will be using storytelling techniques to creatively explore and
express thoughts and feelings through the altered book art process. Time will be
made for reflective writing that may support self-exploration and the formation of
insights about one’s art and experience.
Week 5 — November 12: Altered Book (Change)
The focus this week will be exploring the concept of “Change” in one’s life using
art techniques and the altered book art process. Time will be made for reflective
writing that may support self-exploration and the formation of insights about one’s
art and experience.
Week 6 — November 26: Altered Book (A Letter to Myself)
Participants will be invited to use the artistic techniques learned to create artwork
around the theme “A Letter to Myself.” After a brief writing exercise to facilitate
imagination and introspection, group members will be supported to create
artwork in their altered book exploring this theme. Time will be made for reflective
writing that may support self-exploration and the formation of insights about one’s
art and experience. This session will close with discussion and review of our
workshop series.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to art@kitstoheart.org.