art & papermaking as social action

Art and Papermaking as Social Action

Margaret Mahan, BA

Drew Matott, MFA

Gretchen Miller, MA, ATR-BC, CTC

Peace Paper Project

2012 Buckeye Art Therapy Association Symposium

The People’s Portraits of Bush

Art as Social Action

People’s Portraits of Bush ProjectStreets of Chicago, Illinois

Deep Fried Book

Chicago, Illinois

Sculptor and conceptual artist John LaFalce

(Buffalo, NY) and Drew Matott set out to create

an edition of altered books that were battered

and deep fried.

Breaking Rank (2007) | Drew Cameron & Drew Matott

Peace Paper Project

Peace Paper works to empower bereaved communities by engaging in collaborative art

processes addressing peaceful reconciliation and positive forward thinking. Through paper, writing,

book, and printmaking activities, we work together to transform significant articles of clothing into works of art which broadcast personal stories,

mutual understanding and healing.

Meaningful clothing, fiber, fabricTell story associated with the

experience of item brought: Reflections, memories, feelings

Breaking RagFiber-> pulp-> paper Create art with handmade paperCreative writing Process experience and art

Paper Process Overview

Istanbul, Turkey

Darüşşafaka LisesiIstanbul, Turkey

Children’s Village

Dobbs Ferry, New York

Photo: Rivertowns Enterprise, July 2012

Art Therapy & Social Activism

• Art expression & the creative process can help empower interpersonal awareness important to societal and community issues

• Engage the connection & increase consciousness between the individual & society through art

• Art can serve & create a voice for vulnerable & marginalized populations

• Facilitated outside the traditional therapy environment

Source: Franklin, M. (2010). Global Recovery and the Culturally/Socially Engaged Artist

Portable Papermaking Adaptations

• DIY Mould & Deckle: Stretcher Bars/Picture Frame Window Screen Staple Gun

• Specialty Pulps (Dick Blick)

• Plastic Bin to serve as vat

• Felt Squares for couching

• Sponges & Towels

• Blender

Papermaking with Survivors of Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center, Cleveland, Ohio

• Empowering• Affirming• Creates a voice

• Process and product symbolizes a new beginning & starting over

• “I am here”

“…Allows penetrating access to the original impulsive urges while also transforming these urges into artistic

compositions.”

“Artistic sublimation is a way to be inwardly and socially productive with personal urges and disruptive behaviors.”

“The visual symbols created in this process can retell the autobiographical story of one’s emotional inner life.”

Role of Sublimation

Source: Franklin, M. (2010). Global Recovery and the Culturally/Socially Engaged Artist

Sensory based art-making

Self soothing

Repetition and relaxation to be present in the here and now

Starts with concrete steps, ending with making meaning

Provides containment, yet an emotional release to safely share experiences and emotions through destructing and reconstructing

Papermaking Therapeutic Benefits

Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin

Creating a papermaking & art therapy curriculum

for art therapy undergraduate students

“Art can’t save the world, but combined with therapy it can have a significant part to play in rescuing some of its citizens”.

~ Frances Kaplan Art Therapy and Social Action (2007)

Margaret Mahan | margaret@peacepaperproject.org

Drew Matott | drew@peacepaperproject.org

Gretchen Miller | gretchen@peacepaperproject.org

peacepaperproject.org

Follow Peace Paper’s travels on Facebook:

facebook.com/peacepaper

THANK YOU!Marshae Amarante & Symposium Program Committee

Michele Tarsitano-Amato & BATA Board of Directors