August 14, 2009

"For a long time now I have wanted to integrate more fun into Windows time. The Self-Nurture Portrait workshop allowed all of us to be silly and let go of the type of self-awareness that often inhibits our creativity. I encouraged all of the women to have fun with the activity and not worry about being an ‘artist.’

The women’s creations were all made in a lighthearted way, most of them not resembling themselves, but giving all of us a chance to laugh at ourselves. That release of laughter and enjoyment felt so good in a space that is often reserved for remembrance and vulnerability.

The workshop was a great bonding experience for the multicultural and multilingual residents in our shelter. Most of the women who live at our shelter represent a variety of ethnic backgrounds and speak numerous different languages.  What they cannot communicate through speech, they are able to communicate through art. That can be a very powerful experience as women who share a common past, but don’t always have the language or words to tell their stories, but find a way to share their healing processes through creativity and art."