Brisbane MIECAT Taster workshop 28th April 9.00 -4.30

Click here to find out more about the MIECAT Taster 
email to admin@ miecat.org.au

Lynne is back in action and looking forward to connecting creatively

Weekly Group Sessions : 1pm – 3 pm Fridays [Fee - $40]

Individual sessions : Personalised sessions [Fee - $80. per hr ]

Monthly group sessions : Expressions of interest from co-companions to jointly companion groups at Springbrook or elsewhere would be appreciated.

 

BrizCATs March enews now available on line

You can now access the latest enews for BrizCATs on the Newletter page
HOT TOPICS:

• CATs in Conversation this Saturday
• New Project to become involved in
• Big Day out at GoMA coming up

Swap Shop News

BrizCATs Swap Shop Offerings
We had a fabulous Swap Shop gathering at QUT in February. Do you feel like you missed out by not being able to make it? We don't want you to miss out. We understand that life as a CAT is not always conducive to coming to gatherings so we would like to share some of our ideas and resources/links here .

Offerings from Karma: Imagine the Land and interesting links
Karma shared with us her work in the Imagine the Land Project
http://www.imaginetheland.org/

The Imagine The Land Project was gestated in 2008, in 2010 in became a collaborative project with Croatian artist Ekarasa Prem. The project works to re-establish a connection between people and the environment through art. The work uses natural resources in organic, impermanent land based installations.

This conversation between art, culture and Nature evokes ancient ceremonies that lie within the collective subconscious of humanity. We establish a space for people to connect with the land in a cooperative new art exploration and while developing a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness with Nature each other. The work draws on ancient world cultural practices particularly basing the template of the work on mandalas and medicine wheels. We have been working in a range of settings from art galleries, public programs at museums and community arts, as I develop my practice towards Arts Therapy I am starting to work in more community contexts with the work.

Karma recommends a show of Gonkar Gyatso, a contemporary Tibetan artist who works with notions of ancient Buddhist practises combined with takes on modern western culture, his work and story is very compelling.@ University of Queensland Art Museum 25 Feb -29 April & Griffith of Queensland Art Museum 25 Feb- 14 April

Karma also suggests these links.

• Link for making your own book and getting it printed online:
http://landing.blurb.com/fbphoto-AU/lan-491K3-1564MP.html

• A very interesting project about war and toys: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/03/world/war-toys-mccarty/index.html?hpt=hp_c1&mid=51

Offerings from Anne : Anxiety in young girls and Soap sculpture
Anne shared with us some of her work with young girls experiencing anxiety. Using a peer support model based on play and creative arts, she suggested using handmade scented soap sculptures to increase levels of connection and nurturing.

1. We begin by lying on the floor in our own space(wordless classical music playing): tending and relaxing individual parts of the body from the toes up, then the whole body together.
2. In the whole body relaxed state, I asked them to remember a time when they felt like this.
3. When they had a picture in their mind we each did a painting.
4. we Shared our images with each other and asked each other questions to get a feel for each others 'moment'.
5. We each then wrote some words on pieces of paper around the painting, that came to mind
6. I asked them to choose of one or two of the words from these that seemed to have more importance or 'power'
7. Then I asked them to what image came to mind when they pondered that word
8. We each created a sculpture of thatimage from soft lavender soap (made to the consistency of stiff dough)
9. We shared our words and images.

This gave information about what might be needed in order to feel less anxious as well as an image to keep or bathe with.

Offerings form Lynne: Spiritual reflection and Dialoguing with Images
Lynne shared with us her new book. It included faces and poetic prose that emerged out of her personal spiritual reflective practice of allowing portraits to emerge in her drawings. She followed this with a dialogue with the face which brought her to the rich and inspiring text. To find out more contact Lynne at Insight.Arts.Counselling@gmail.com or visit her webpage. http://www.gcinsightartscounselling.com.au/


This work emerged out of Lynne's experience of Faber Spirituality http://www.faberspirituality.org.au/spiritual-exercises.html

Offerings from Cate:
Cate shared her art making from up cycled materials. She mentioned a project where participants are given a surprise bag of objects (junk to be reused) The challenge is to create an art work from the objects in the bag (with the possibility of adding a few extra items if needed)...sounds like great fun to me! Cate also shared with us some ideas around Shrine Making: contained sacred spaces in boxes.

 
This was a great reminder of the fun stuff that can be found at Reverse Garbage http://www.reversegarbage.com.au/

Offerings from Susie:
Susie shared with us some art therapy books that she found inspiring.

• The Soul's Palette by Cathy Malchiodi
• the Expressive Arts Activity Book by Suzanne Darley and Wende Heath. Susie explained a version of the special box exercise from this book She suggested creating your own unique box then writing on three different pieces of paper, 1. something that you love (eg rainforests) 2. something you want to get rid of (eg my sugar addiction !) and 3. something you want to improve.

Offerings from Mandy: Exploring the experience of cults through arts
Mandy spent considerable time setting up her representation around Experiences of Cults. Below is a picture of it when it was exhibited at MIECAT last year. Unfortunately before we could experience it we had to move venues (due to lack of power in our building and the security guards being worried that we might not know if there was a fire with the fire alarms being turned off). Fortunately we all got to engage hands on in the dismantling of the exhibition getting up close and personal with the content , with its delicate feathers and disturbing images. This led us to a discussion about Cults and other forms of power imbalances and trauma.

Offerings from Gayle: Projects: Artist Trading Cards, And Space and Places
Gayle shared her recent work with Artist Trading Card making and swapping through the '6 Degrees' project. She shared her tiny art works and explained how she had made them (see link below) and swapped them with other arts therapist about the world. She is keen to initiate our own BrizCAT Artist Trading Card swap.(More info to come soon). Gayle also introduced the group to the online Spaces and Places Where We Create Project in conjunction with the Art Therapy Alliance in the hope to create more creative sharing opportunities amongst BrizCATs.
Meanwhile here are some links to wet your creative appetite.

• Artist Trading Card Idea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKMRjj4DKPI
• An Animoto slide show of Gayle's recent Artist Trading Cards http://animoto.com/play/GtIAhFZ77lekH1SlFil05g
• http://www.arttherapyalliance.org/WhereWeCreate.html

books Gayle loves including Lynne's self published book that she shared with us

example ATC

Matisse Exhibition

Following the BrizCATs gathering a few BrizCATs took the opportunity to visit GOMA and the Matisse Exhibition. This also included a delicious lunch and a visit from a very handsome fellow who was keen to show his creamy lips. Apparently he eats here regularly.

Spaces and Places Where We Create Project

Hi BrizCATs

I open an invitation to any of you who may wish to participate in an inspiring and connecting project: Spaces and Places where we create. This is a free online creative project for Arts Therapists and a could be an opportunity to make new connections and get your work  ‘out there’. I have signed BrizCATs up to take part. By participating through BrizCATs you can help us to grow our network of support.  You can also participate on your own or through your own organisation or workplace if that suits you. 

Here is some info below  or  go to http://www.arttherapyalliance.org/WhereWeCreate.html )

Spaces & Places: Where We Create is an art therapy community photo documentary project developed by Magdalena Karlick, ATR, LPAT, LPCC and Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BC inviting participants to submit a photo of their creative work space and favorite tools of the trade. Through social media and digital photo sharing, this collaborative project aims to provide education, awareness, inspiration, and understanding about the spaces & places, settings, populations, and materials that art therapists, art therapy students, expressive arts therapists, and art organizations work in and use for their practice. Types of photos or video that this project is looking for include: 1. Images of your creative space: Where you work, intern, your own personal art-making space 2. Commonly used art supplies and media in your art therapy work or internship with clients 3. Favourite technique: An art intervention or technique approach with individuals or in groups 4. If your creative space has changed: Before and after photos

It’s quite simple really: take pics of your creative places and spaces and share them online.

There are several ways to share

·        Via BrizCATs; which will give our  network some recognition. Email  your photos and information to crispcreativearts@bigpond.com with :Where we Create” in the subject and I can  upload them for you onto our BrizCATs site, as well as forward them to the project on behalf of BrizCATs

·        Via your own work: contact the project organisers directly  info@arttherapyalliance.org with :Where we Create” in the subject

I hope you will join us for some sharing of our creative spaces and places.

Gayle

BrizCATs gathering: a swap shop

Saturday 11th February 9.30-12.30

Start the year with fresh ideas and lively conversation with other creative arts practitioners and arts therapists. This is an opportunity to swap ideas, activities, books, resources etc  each person brings something to share (it could be in the form of a small installation of art work, web links and notes on activity and a display of business cards, brochure, etc. (bring copies for others).  An opportunity for creative arts therapists and practitioners to explore and connect.

All creative arts therapists/practitioners are welcome ... no cost ... our aim is to support, share, inspire each other.

When: Saturday 11th February 9.30-12.30

(we have booked the space from 9am til 1 for those want some time to set up before hand or just spend more time catching up)

Where: G Block: Innovative Space QUT Gardens Point

Not sure of where to go?

·        For those unsure of finding the venue you can meet at 9 and 9.30 at the “Artisan Cafe” and we will send someone to guide you to G Block. OR Phone Gayle on 0448877856

·        For those feeling adventurous  G Block is the building immediately behind/attached to the Artisan Cafe. Go in the wooden door and up the stairs...through the doors, down the corridor and to the left..usually there are signs inside the building. Here is a map http://cms.qut.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/33314/GP_2010_Accessibilitymap1.pdf

·        Parking is available onsite under the expressway see map D6:  $6 for 4 hours (note our session is 4 hours, but the room is booked for 5 hours so if you want to be there longer than the 4hours to set up you may need to move the car at some point)

What to Bring:

Snack to share,

Water,

A small display of ideas, books resources, art work, anything you want to share (or want feed back on)

Art materials

PS: could the ‘communal journal’ please be brought (by whoever has it now)so it can shared and be handed on.

We hope you can come and join us. Please let us know if you are coming

Artist Trading Cards slideshow

click kere to see Gayle Artist Trading Cards

January News

Keep you eye out for the dates for the next BrizCATs gathering in February/March.

Lynne Head-Weir of Gold Coast Insight Arts Counselling is leaping into 2012 with a rich selection of workshops that may be of interest to CATs.

To have your event/workshops listed here please email Gayle crispcreativearts@bigpond.com

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    Whats on with GC Insight Arts Counselling

Business hours   9am to 4pm  Wednesday to Saturday

   ·      Weekly Group Sessions :  Ongoing sessions to create increased understanding   1pm – 3 pm Fridays  [Fee - $40] 

·        Individual sessions :  Personalised sessions for privacy [Fee - $80. per hr ]  

·        Upcoming day session Dates : have been unexpectedly postponed due to unavailabilty: watch this pace for up coming events

Lynne Head-Weir

Gold Coast Insight Arts Counselling

Insight.arts.counselling@gmail.com

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