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Expressive Arts Studio:A workshop series for young adults with cancerPsychosocial Oncology Rounds, November 20, 2014Presenter:Catherine Dunlop, Ph.D., DVATI, Art TherapistBC Cancer Agency

OverviewBackgroundApproachSessionsParticipants PerspectiveWhat’s Next

Background History of arts-based supportgroups for young adults at BCCA(VCC, VIC) Spring 2014 group Donation Proposal / Plan

Approach Parameters:– Young adults with cancer– Arts-based– VCC Build on and expand the current model by:– including all the expressive arts (not just visual art)– by inviting Guest Artists from each modality (one each week) to leada hands-on studio exploration focusing on creative expression andthe cancer journey (studio format, not support group)

ApproachGoals: To provide a safe space for young adults with cancer to learn from andsupport each other (experiential, supportive) To provide a forum for sharing information on how creative expressioncan help with the cancer journey (reduce stress and anxiety, help withcoping, reduce pain, discover inner strengths, increase creativeinspiration, provide a container for emotions that are difficult to expressin words, and improve quality of life) (educational, supportive) To provide an opportunity for participants (patients) to experiencecreative expression in each arts-based modality, in a studio format, withthe guidance of a guest artist and the BCCA Art Therapist (experiential,supportive)

ApproachFramework: Expressive Arts Modalities: poetry, sculpture, photography,painting, songwriting, and African drumming Guest Artists: active artists selected by committee (G. Mackenzie, S.Sample, and C. Dunlop) and approached individually (C. Dunlop) Sessions: 6 sessions, 2 hours/session, once per week for 6 weeks(Mondays, 4:30-6:30pm) Facilitation: BCCA Art Therapist (C. Dunlop) facilitated all six sessions;guest artists from each modality led the studio exploration component

ApproachFramework: Target Audience: BCCA-registered young adults with cancer (19-40);they may be pre-treatment, in treatment, or post-treatment; prescreening interview to ensure appropriate fit conducted by BCCA ArtTherapist (support persons, and staff also attended) Promotion Plan: posters onsite, announcement on BCCA website(Emotional Support – Vancouver groups), distribution among BCCA staff,community organizations Registration: Required. Recommended that participants attend all thesessions, if possible Group Size: 7 – 15 participants

Sessions an Drumming

Sessions: PoetryScott Ramsay Scott Ramsay was twice long-listedfor the CBC Writes’ competition,long-listed for Arc poem of the year,and was a finalist for both PRISM'spoem of the year award and Quills’poem of the year. He also was partof The Blackletter Ballads publishedby Swamp Lantern Books. He canbe heard on Wax Poetic etic-192

Sessions: PoetryWhat is poetry ?Structure of poems (AA BB CC DD)Poetry “Olympics”Finding the sacred/stories/seeds of poems (streamof consciousness writing) Charles Bukowski, Maya Angelou Activity

Sessions: PoetryBluebirdBy Charles Bukowskithere’s a bluebird in my heart thatwants to get outbut I’m too tough for him,I say, stay in there, I’m not goingto let anybody seeyou.there’s a bluebird in my heart thatwants to get outbut I pour whiskey on him andinhale cigarette smokeand the bartendersand the grocery clerksnever know that he’sin there.there’s a bluebird in my heart thatwants to get outbut I’m too tough for him,I say,do you want tomess me up?you want to screw up the works?you want to blow my book sales inEurope?there’s a bluebird in my heart thatwants to get outbut I’m too clever, I only let himoutat night sometimeswhen everybody’s asleep.I say, I know that you’re there,so don’t’ besad.Then I put him back,But he’s singing a littleIn there, I haven’t quite let himdieand we sleep together likethatwith out secret pactand it’s nice enough tomake a manweep, but I don’tweep, doyou?

Sessions: PoetryBluebirdBy Charles Bukowskithere’s a bluebird in my heart thatwants to get outbut I’m too tough for him,I say, stay in there, I’m not goingto let anybody seeyou.there’s a bluebird in my heart thatwants to get outbut I pour whiskey on him andinhale cigarette smokeand the bartendersand the grocery clerksnever know that he’sin there.there’s a bluebird in my heart thatwants to get outbut I’m too tough for him,I say,do you want tomess me up?you want to screw up the works?you want to blow my book sales inEurope?there’s a bluebird in my heart thatwants to get outbut I’m too clever, I only let himoutat night sometimeswhen everybody’s asleep.I say, I know that you’re there,so don’t’ besad.Then I put him back,But he’s singing a littleIn there, I haven’t quite let himdieand we sleep together likethatwith out secret pactand it’s nice enough tomake a manweep, but I don’tweep, doyou?

Sessions: SculptureApril Davis April Davis is a practicing artist andart educator. She studied at theAlberta Collage of Art and Designand at Emily Carr University whereshe received the Governor General’sAward. April believes that throughan appreciation of art andparticipation in the creative processwe become more aware of ourselvesand the world around us. She lovesto share in this experience withothers through her teaching. Aprilinstructs the School Program andcourses for home learners at theSurrey Art Gallery.

Sessions: Sculpture Working with clay All tools and materials provided (Surrey Art Gallery) Making clay masks – Animals (link to Bluebirdpoem) “Art Show”

Sessions: PhotographyScott Ramsay Scott Ramsay’s photos, which canbe seen at his website:www.scottworks.cahave been exhibited in Vancouver atThe Whip; 6 Acres; Twigg andHottie; and Portobello West Market.He has also shown his photos inArles, France, and Bielsko Biala,Poland.

Sessions: Photography What is photography ? Goals for session:– see beauty and sacred moments every day– Have a better eye to capture those moments

Sessions: Photography Pointers––––––––––Rule of thirdsLeading linesMove to get a better shotFramingColourPerspectiveShoot small thingsPatternsStoryRepetition

Sessions: PaintingBev Gray Bev Gray is a Winnipeg-based artistand early childhood educator. Forthe past six years she hasfacilitated ‘Art in the Kitchen’, aweekly art class designed to allowanother form of communication andemotional outlet for the adultparticipants of Wolseley FamilyPlace in Winnipeg. She is alsopreparing work for a December2014 show where she will channelinterior reflections of weather todiscuss the unease of climatechange. Bev has used a widevariety of media to create her artover the years from snow to penciland paint and most recently tofabric.

Sessions: PaintingMural

Sessions: Photography We are all artists – be gentle with yourself Materials are all around – opportunity for delight Listen to what needs to come out – your visuallanguage and themes are there

Sessions: PaintingMaterials

Sessions: Painting

Sessions: SongwritingClaire Mortifee What separates a singer from a soulsinger? It’s a tough question, butCanadian songstress Claire Mortifeesheds light on the answer with anundeniable musical prowess, asocially conscious lifestyle, and amessage of healing and self-love thatemanates through her work. As avocalist, songwriter, and multiinstrumentalist this 22-year oldVancouver native resonates withauthenticity. Her refined vocal ability,radiant stage presence, and lyricalhonesty combine colorful poeticswith universal life lessons. ClaireMortifee is a soul singer.

Sessions: SongwritingBenefits of expression through music and songThroat – between the head and heartStructure of a song (verse, chorus, bridge)Claire sang one of her songs for us (demonstratingstructure/lyrics) Creating lyrics (bubbles - activity) Claire played melodies for freshly created lyrics andsang those songs for us – on the spot!

Sessions: African DrummingLyle Povah Lyle Povah leads African drummingand music events worldwide,offering programs in hospital,conference, child and adult mentalhealth, corporate, corrections andcommunity settings. He is amusician/educator, drum circlefacilitator, writer, researcher, andchildren's entertainer, withparticular interest in health andwellness, intergenerational learning,spirituality, psychiatric and eatingdisorders, youth-at-risk, and autism.Lyle runs ongoing programs at theHaven, BC Children's Hospital, St.Paul's Hospital, and the UBC SauderSchool of Business.

Sessions: African Drumming

Sessions: African Drumming Variety of activities with variety of rhythminstruments (eggs, boomwhackers, drums) Teams/groups making different rhythms Discussion interspersed with themes of self-care,expression of emotions (anger, joy ) Drumming circle (two people lying on mats in themiddle)

What’s Next Another series will be offered in 2015 – opento all BCCA patients at the VCC Document/video the 2015 series Create an online “workshop” for people toaccess from anywhere (using video excerptsand added narrative) Explore models for other centres (one dayformat?)

Participants Perspective It was great – I had a chance to get in touch with myemotions and release tough feelings. Loved the variety of the classes. Enjoyed trying new things, stimulating my mind, having timeto relax, participate in an activity to distract my worrying.Taught me to not over think things and to live in the presentmoment. Enjoyed learning about different types of art forms andchallenging myself to try something new. Suggestions: longer program; something on an ongoingbasis; just spread the word.

Parameters: – Young adults with cancer – Arts-based – VCC Build on and expand the current model by: – including all the expressive arts (not just visual art) – by inviting Guest Artists from each modality (one each week) to lead a hands-on studio exploration focusing on creative expression