SDYC Attendee WOW-za
Summer 2018
Linking Fences, Lead
Summer 2018
Change Network is Awesome-azing
Fall 2018
BushCON? Yepper, that amazing-ness, too!
Fall 2018
Change Network AND Leveling Up
2018
I am very excited to share some of the news for my upcoming community art project! It will involve three communities in South Dakota. This is part of a larger vision I've been working on for nearly a decade. My business, CAT Scratch Studios, which stands for Creative Arts and Therapies is the foundation for everything I've been working for. This is the platform from where I do the mini-lessons with various community groups to teach art. It is also where I have begun my own journey of sharing therapeutic ways to connect people through teaching meditations and yoga.
Because of my previous works and the incredible opportunity I've had through the Change Network, I will be able to take my ideas to the next level. THANKS to the collaboration of Gail Crider, National Arts Strategies; Janice Downing, CommonSense Consulting@Work; Deryn Dudley, Community Science; Jocelyn Hale, MillerHale Associates; Charles “Boots” Kennedye, videographer; Megan Laudenschlager, Strengthen ND; Rosemarie Ndupuechi, 3E Productions;and Kari O’Neill, SDSU Extension.
This project will offer more ways for people to connect. It will also extend my beliefs that humans need opportunities for social interactions to maintain healthy lifestyles. Our communities protect us, support us and are integral for an individual’s success. When people are surrounded by those they trust, they are more willing to risk, innovate and in those processes become versions of their best selves. Survival depends on the ability to trust. People from different communities can come together through art. Barriers for people break down through art making processes. Connections developed through creativity are deep. People desire connection and are hardwired to forge and maintain connections to others. Making community art helps build pride in community. Community artworks last in a person’s memory.
Through this project and my long term business goals, it will become possible to establish long term connections. Specifically building connection of communities. This pilot project will expand to a statewide community arts impact. Follow up events will build into this framework to expand community involvement in areas of physical and mental health. People will be able to engage with artistic processes or artworks and it will become a daily experience for community members. The sense of pride instilled in community members who participate. Interest builds for those who see the works. Educational opportunities. Visiting artist programs, annual community art installations become an anchor for additional art and community events, such as annual art shows, sales, and community activities surrounding the art sites (walking or biking tours to see the works)
