Take some time to breathe this holiday season. This workshop invites participants to engage with two galleries in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection through a therapeutic lens. Visitors will consider artworks and a personal item of their own to reflect on how objects hold meaning, evoke memory, and increase their sense of connectedness to the world and themselves. During the creative response portion, participants will be invited to write a story, poem, make a still life, or even a small sculpture honoring their objects.
Participants who want to are encouraged to bring a small personal object to inspire their reflection and creativity. A box of shared objects will also be provided by the facilitator.
Regarding choosing your object, please consider the following:
- No objects that hold significant financial value;
- No organic objects (food, plant, beverage, etc.);
- No overly large objects (ideally your object will fit in a medium-sized bag);
- No sharp objects or objects that can be used as a weapon.
Examples of acceptable objects include photos, figurines, books, small trophies or other keepsakes, costume jewelry, toys, etc.
Though this workshop utilizes an art therapy framework in its conception, it is not a formal group therapy session. There are no clinical implications to this workshop.
Julia Daniel is an art therapist and currently works in the Counseling Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is interested in supporting people through making sense and meaning of the world around them, and engages in this practice both clinically in individual therapy sessions and through various workshops.
What to Expect
The workshop will meet in the Ryan Learning Center just inside the Modern Wing entrance on Monroe Street. The group will visit galleries in lower level Rice and on the third floor of the Modern Wing. The second portion of the workshop will take place in the classroom where participants will be guided through an art making experience. The workshop will be 2 hours long. While in the galleries, staff will provide pencils and papers to write with, as well as folding stools. All materials will be provided, with the exception of participants’ found objects.
