Week Three- The Art Experience

The organization that I will be working with to form a service-learning project is The Art Experience in Pontiac, Michigan.

The Art Experience was created in 1995 to produces a community art studio that allows for healing power of the arts. This community is made up of children, adults, artists, therapists, and many others alike. Here, all are welcomed to participate and create and experience the joy of art making the ability to share with others.

The Art Experience offers class, open studio, and specialized programs. There is a variety of supplies that is offered to create any type of art that a person can imagine. But, creating art is not the only thing that TAE has to offer. They offer participants to communicate and build relationships. They allow people to reflect, uncover their own strengths, and allow the art to form a journey of self.

Here one has the ability to discover their own identity and examine and enhance their own life by connecting with those around them.

I was able to visit the Art Expereince on Monday Feb. 4. I met with Judy Wilson who is the director of the program. During our meeting we talked about the organization and what if had to offer to the Pontiac community. I discovered by talking with Ms. Wilson that the Pontiac public schools have recently diminished their arts.

Also by talking with her we discussed all possibilities that I could help out with my discussing my own background as a studio artist and the fact that I work for the galleries on Wayne State University. During my time at TAE I will be participating at the open studio hours to discuss with people about being an artist and providing feedback to what they have created during their studio time.

Also, we have discussed about working with after school children who would be interested in working with art. During this option the children would have the ability to experience art as a way to practice interpersonal skills and respect those around them because the project would possibly be a group effort. Yet, this project is still be working out and details are not finalized.

Additionally, in 2011, one of the founders, Katie Serewicz has passed away. They have asked if I would be able to propose an exhibition of her work to a gallery in the local area. Katie has a large artistic range and also has an art therapy background. “Katie guided youth and adults, including people with developmental disabilities, mental illness or those recovering from substance abuse, to realize their own creative potential and to see themselves as artists.  In her own creative work, Katie allowed the emotional component to inform her art and encouraged those whom she taught and mentored to do the same.” (description for the organizations website) I would find this exhibition very beneficial to all artists alike because it would show her dedication and passion to what she believe the arts can do.

On Thursday of that same week, I had the opportunity to participate during the open studio event. During my time there I was able to experience a variety of interactions. From young to old, disabled to shy, people were there to communicate, create, and form a community. In one are of the one people were painting. In another a group of women were performing and artistic dance movement where their movement acknowledged the music they were listening too. Everyone there was involved in a project and talking and engaging with one another.

The experience allowed me to see the importance of how art can act as a healing device. As an artist I always forget how art can be more than just creating a piece. Art has the power to let individuals talk and create ways of connecting while providing an on going dialogue.

Art acts as an advocacy. It’s a drive that formulates a remedy to what you are doing. It’s a voice to what doesn’t have one. Art contributes to finding one’s own identity and allows for participation in expressing one’s self.