Client: Redleaf Center for Family Healing

Overview

A private commission for a Women’s healthcare clinic, this work includes 500 artist created 6″ x 6″ canvas squares that were prepared for staff, patients, and others to share a drawing or story of gratitude. Initially created from a prompt from the artist: such as “What are you Grateful for,” the work changes over time based on community envolvment. Local context and collaboratively creating connections with others is embodied in my creative process and public interventions. I often employ a socially engaged process of dialogue that is a unique and powerful platform for public participation and creativity. During this process, I engage viewers directly, offering moments of conversation, introspection, public participation, and co-creation in many of my installations. Human connection and co-creation are essential parts of my practice.

Goals

The work is intended to function as a therapeutic tool for the therapist to create their own prompts and explorations within a threrputic setting. Through the hanging of a person’s intimate and vulnerable creation, facilitating to humanize one another.

Process

Over several months, I created the foundation of the works by painting on canvas that I then cut up into 500 6’ x 6’ squares. Then I painted the base canvas that the small works hung upon. It was framed to be a 4' x 6’ box. The staff and patients then utilized I Love You Institute (ILYI) markers to share their story and/or thoughts based on the prompt of gratitude. The ILYI is an artist-led initiative to address today’s complex world through saying “I Love You.” ILYI creative packets include water-based markers that have the words: I Love You on the side. The idea is that we propagate this saying one small initiative at a time. Once created, participants then hung the works on the framed painting. The work is intentionally interactive, encouraging folks to experience and/or read other’s responses. Through that process, there is a building of community and a humazing effect. There is a box of additional squares at the front desk for evolving artwork.

Additional Information

This type of public engagement can be adapted to a variety of applications and situations so that the work becomes customized. As an artist, I am interested in this type of work via the changing of prompts.