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Keynote presentation by Peace Paper at the 2012 Buckeye Art Therapy Association on the topic of art as social action, focusing on lecture and visual content related to utilizing papermaking and creative expression as a cathartic process to give meaning, create transformation, and provide empowerment through releasing and reforming fibers into new stories and new beginnings.
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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 | [email protected]
Drew Matott | [email protected]
Gretchen Miller | [email protected]
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
