Creative Workshop with L’Arche Atlanta
We are honored to partner with L’Arche Atlanta to host creative workshop experiences for their community. L’Arche Atlanta is a non-profit, house-based community that celebrates the gifts of people with and without intellectual disabilities. The most recent online workshop focused on the themes of joy and sorrow and how these elements are part of all of our stories.
The simple process of creating art allows us to connect to something deep in ourselves. Using abstract painting and mark making, we identified experiences of joy and sorrow in our lives. Together we developed visual maps through marks, color, shapes, lines and movement. Each piece was unique and beautiful and was a profound reflection of the creators. We also enjoyed connecting with each other while reflecting on the enjoyment of art.
Our amazing facilitator, Shabrae Jackson, led the workshop. Shabrae is a trained expressive arts educator working in communities and organizations globally. She is co-founder of UMBRAL, a Mexican-based organization engaged in arts-based psychosocial trauma and healing work. She also works with LudArtem and other International organizations to create spaces for art and play. Shabrae enjoys using play and creativity to build connection and pathways towards health and healing and we all enjoyed this as part of the workshop! We danced, sang and painted together.
Creativity profoundly impacts the artist and we saw this in our workshop with L’Arche Atlanta. This workshop allowed the participants to try something new and build confidence. We heard responses like, “I didn’t think I was an artist until I took this workshop.” And, “I have anger issues and this workshop helped me see that I can use art to help me.” If you are part of the L’Arche Atlanta community, we will be hosting another workshop for you in August, so stay tuned for details; and let us know if you’d like to be a part of our Exchange program and MAKE ART in online workshops with us monthly.
If you are part of our Exchange Program, your support helps provide opportunities like this to our partnership organizations around the world. To join the Exchange program program for $18 a month to MAKE art, GIVE art and BE art, click here.
