{"id":15599,"date":"2014-05-06T06:38:22","date_gmt":"2014-05-06T10:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artbridgesblog.ca\/en\/?p=15599"},"modified":"2014-05-06T06:38:22","modified_gmt":"2014-05-06T10:38:22","slug":"membership-spotlight-my-first-experience-with-programs-without-walls-by-mario-murray","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artbridges.ca\/fr\/membership-spotlight-my-first-experience-with-programs-without-walls-by-mario-murray\/","title":{"rendered":"ArtBridges’ Membership Spotlight: My First Experience with Programs Without Walls by Mario Murray (Art Starts)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"artstarts-mariomurray1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00ab\u00a0It’s\u00a09:20\u00a0and I’m almost an hour early for the Creative Expressions\u00a0Workshop. Art Starts has run many\u00a0programs in the Jane and Woolner neighbourhood but this is the first time they’ve offered pottery. In walks Katherine Earl (Program Director and fellow Art Starter) and to my great satisfaction she takes me on an Art Starts historical\u00a0tour of the park just outside of\u00a0Access Alliance<\/a>\u00a0where we are visiting the workshop. By the time we finish our 15 minute romp through time (and\u00a0the snow) the Art Starts mosaic benches and playground convince me\u00a0that Art Starts has been a catalyst for literally changing the face of this neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

We head in to the Creative Expressions program. This session the participants are training in the art of pottery with professional potter\u00a0Melissa Harendorf<\/a>. I take a moment to introduce myself but I’m barely noticed as\u00a0participants are already hard at work. The focus and enjoyment is palpable as brush strokes delightfully wisp across the surface of dried clay and mothers carefully put the finishing touches on last week’s work.<\/p>\n

\"artstarts-mariomurray2\"<\/a>At the program, participants complete a new creation every week and this week I was privy to learning the process of creating art with rolled out clay slabs. I was given my own piece of clay and instructed on how to prep it and shape it into something imaginative. The process was immediately enthralling and just the feeling of shaping and marking the clay felt like deep therapy.<\/p>\n

When I spoke with the women participating they validated my suspicions that this program has incredible value to the women who participate.\u00a0Qumrun<\/strong>\u00a0a veteran of PWW programs said that in her busy life \u00ab\u00a0it’s amazing to get together, create and meet other women<\/em>.\u00a0\u00bb She is happy with the program and wishes to do more.\u00a0Roushon<\/strong>, another long time participant said that she believes the program is important because it makes her feel good, people are friendly and she can also teach her child what she has learned.<\/p>\n

\"artstarts-mariomurray3\"<\/a>It was refreshing to see the real impact that this program is having on the\u00a0community through these two women but talking to participant\u00a0Sadia<\/strong>\u00a0was the icing on the cake. For her the program represents a tension free\u00a0atmosphere that \u00ab\u00a0reminds me\u00a0of my childhood<\/em>.\u00a0\u00bb She said that it helps her relieve stress, defeat depression and feel good. She made it a point to mention that the importance of the program is apparent in the fact that\u00a0on this a minus twenty\u00a0degree day,\u00a0with errands to run, she still takes the time to\u00a0walk to the Creative Expressions program.\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0I love it. I want it again and again<\/em>\u00a0\u00bb said\u00a0Sadia\u00a0<\/strong>as she anxiously awaits the results of her clay creations after being fired in the Art Starts kiln.<\/p>\n

\"artstarts-mariomurray4\"<\/a>Speaking to the women around the craft table I was able to put the finishing touches on my\u00a0own clay project before the session was over. As I worked away I thought about the lessons I was taking home. I can now see how important it is to take these moments to create. Today resonated with me and I understand why these women are here.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n

-photos submitted by Art Starts and post written by Mario Murray.\u00a0<\/em>
\nRead\u00a0Art Starts\u2019 profile<\/a>\u00a0in ArtBridges’ Community-Engaged Arts\u00a0Directory and Map<\/a><\/em>
\n<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00ab\u00a0It’s\u00a09:20\u00a0and I’m almost an hour early for the Creative Expressions\u00a0Workshop. Art Starts has run many\u00a0programs in the Jane and Woolner neighbourhood but this is the first time they’ve offered pottery. In walks Katherine Earl (Program Director and fellow Art Starter) and to my great satisfaction she takes me on an<\/p>\n

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