Creative Deed Project: “Art-filled Hope” Postcard Art Exchange

“When all else seems lost and steeped in hopelessness, the magic of creativity can still keep you going.” – Jyoti Arora

Earlier this summer at the national art therapy conference in Baltimore, inspiration for a new creative collaboration was sparked during a 6 Degrees of Creativity meet-up, as well as a focus group I led on social media’s impact on creative motivation. These initial dialogues resulted in art therapist Nancy Lautenbach and me to brainstorm ideas for a new creative collaboration. In the spirit of the Creative Deed Project launched by 6 Degrees of Creativity in 2014 and Nancy’s viewing of The Big Hope Show at the American Visionary Art Museum while we were in Baltimore, we are excited to announce a postcard art exchange called “Art-filled Hope”.

The project: Create 3 handmade postcards with original art that will be sent through the postal mail to three different individuals also participating in the exchange. You will also receive three postcards/art in return from fellow participants!  Participants are responsible for the shipping of their postcard art, which may include international postage, depending on the recipient’s mailing address. Postcard art should be mailed out by October 1, 2016.

Theme: Fill your postcards with hope inspired art to exchange with art therapists and other creatives around the world! We can always use a little hope in our lives, to release into the world and to others in the spirit of affirmation, courage, and possibility.

How to sign up: Please send an email to 6degreesofcreativity@arttherapyalliance.org with your full name and mailing address. By signing up for this exchange, you agree to meet the project’s mailing deadline and to follow through with sending your postcard art to your assigned destinations. Please do not sign up for this creative collaboration if you are unable to commit to these expectations. Deadline to sign up is September 8. Participants will receive the mailing addresses they are sending to shortly after this deadline via email.

Participants involved in this exchange are also encouraged to email an image of their art, so it can be shared with the 6 Degrees of Creativity community on Facebook— filling social media with our hopeful messages and art for others to experience!

Some recent hope-filled resources to help inspire and inform your art making and ideas about this theme include:

• This PDF of exhibition quotes from The Big Hope Show;

• 20 creative quotes on courage, hope, and possibility;

• How hope can help you heal CNN news article: The physiological benefits of hope on our well-being, including how community and the people who surround us can influence and spread its impact;

• 5 ways hope improves your success Daily Fulfillment article featuring research and advantages that having a hope inspired mindset can have on well-being and future

We look forward to what the theme from this exchange inspires, the connection it creates, and as an opportunity to share and spread the power of hope through art!

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Artist Trading Card Meet Up and Fun in San Antonio

Here are some photos from the Artist Trading Card Meet Up and Exchange in San Antonio on July 10:

About 30 art therapists from all over the US, as well as Canada & Mexico participated in this swap- bringing three art therapy dream themed ATCs to exchange…. It was super fun to meet up in person and spend this inspiring time together offline.  Thank you to everyone who participated and was part of this happening…. and to Andrea Davis for helping co-organize this with me!

Pocket Change Artist Trading Card eZine Now Available!

The Pocket Change eZine is now available to download!

This free 105 page eZine features the artist trading card collection, participant feedback, and stories inspired by this project. So many good vibes and creative goodness to enjoy here!

Thank you everyone who contributed to this project, and to Beth & Hannah for all their help and collaboration.

To download, click the image above or this link.

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Good Vibes Here: The Pocket Change Artist Trading Card Collection

As posted last month, all the Artist Trading Cards created for the Pocket Change Exchange were received, swapped out and mailed to their new homes!  This post features some of the individual collections posted by some Pocket Changers when getting their new ATCs in the mail:

@ ArtHealsAustin: “It really is exciting to create, and share, and receive handmade art. I’m so glad I stumbled across the project in time to participate. These little acts of creative kindness are unique, and inspiring, and fun, and motivating. Before I had even opened the envelope, I was smiling.” ~Brittany Sweeden

 

@ Artsyletters: Connections and Combinations– “Today I’m thankful not only to have been a creator but a recipient in the Pocket Change  Artist Trading Card project.” ~Robyn Hood Black

 

 

ATCs Anyone? – “We celebrated the new year and the closing of another session of learning new techniques with a swap called Pocket Change!” ~Susanna Suchack

 

 

@ InnerCanvas– “I just got my Pocket Change Artist Trading Cards in the mail!!!” ~Lisa Mitchell

 

 

 

“These are the four beautiful ATC’s I received as a participant in the Pocket Change exchange…Thank you everyone…What a treat!” ~ Laura Hegfield

 

 

 

The entire Pocket Change ATC collection can also now be seen via the 6 Degrees of Creativity Facebook page.  Thanks to Beth for scanning each set as they arrived into her care! Take a look, share, and comment on the good vibes, kindness, and creativity created in these meaningful mini works of art:

Stay tuned for more from this project, as a free e-zine with all the ATCs and acts of creative kindness are shared to help keep the positive energy flowing!!!

Pocket Changers Unite!

The invite we made in December to join us in our Pocket Change adventure is now at the exchange phase, which is very exciting!  Yes!  Hundreds of artist trading cards from all over the world in the US, Canada, Italy, Australia, India, Mexico, and New Zealand arrived to Beth’s mailbox in Decatur, Georgia as their first stop in this project.

A big thank you to Beth for serving as Pocket Change Headquarters during the last month! Beth’s done a great job in receiving all the creative goodness arriving since January, including confirming their delivery with participants, scanning ATCs and dividing the ATCs to mail to Hannah and I for exchanging.  Hannah, Beth, and I will now be working on exchanging all the ATCs received and mailing them back to everyone, as well as posting all the ATCs online for everyone to view.

As I started to take in all the good vibes and creative mojo from the mailings & packages I received in my exchange batch from Beth, the intention of this swap really shined through. Not just in the ATC art created or the image’s messages, but also the attached notes of gratitude & kindness and extra tokens of generosity in the form of creating more than four ATCs to share or including another SASE envelope in case someone forgot theirs.

Act of Creative Kindness from Molly Doerner-Santa Fe, New Mexico

In this post I also wanted to share some of the love received among Pocket Changers involved with this special project and their experience, ideas, and artist trading card making:

Artist Trading Cards – Love, Life and Death: Art Heals Austin: “Since participating in the Pocket Change project, I’ve found myself gravitating toward this art form of creating tiny inspirational artworks. I find it more manageable and easily accessible. And my detail-oriented artistic style still allows for deep focus and a cathartic process.”  You can also see the ATCs created for this exchange by Art Heals Austin via this post.

Almost Ready to Go- Beth Rommel Studio | “The love and goodwill sent to my door is a beautiful reflection on the true meaning of pocket change, a little something to make a positive change.”

 

Art Break Wednesday: Artist Trading Cards for Pocket Change- artsyletters | “I sent in my cards and am looking forward to  surprises in the mail later, plus seeing the whole group and learning how the creativity behind all of these cards – and there are hundreds and hundreds of cards – has enriched lives in small and large ways.”

Artist Trading Cards: Promoting Community, Creativity, and Acts of Kindness- Creativity in Therapy | “Not only was creating my ATCs an enjoyable time for creativity, I loved the idea of participating in a collaborative and community-building activity with other artists and art therapists.”

 

Mending Walls and Making Change- Hannah Klaus Hunter | “I’ve arranged the artist trading cards, in various stages of completion, at a discreet distance from where I sand. I can see them while I work, their bright colors shining, offering the possibility of almost instant gratification.”

 

Mid-week pondering: Inspiration from the Pocket Exchage ATCs project – artevolutions | “It’s fascinating  to follow this creative flow starting from all the Pocket Exchangers  spreading across the globe creating something, communicating and inspiring others…Thinking about the journey of these ATCs hopping from one creative hub to another and spreading the message connecting more people in the process…Wonderful…”

Pocket Change Artist Trading Cards- Holistic Art Expressions | “I really got very involved in making this cards today that i am considering leaving some in various public places where people can find them.”

 

Artist Trading Cards: Small, simple inspirations- La Zattera dell’ArteTerapia |  “The idea that small images may offer positivity, joy and beauty to different people makes me happy.”

 

Pocket Change Power & The Art of Kindness- Creativity in Motion | “Just think about the awesome power & positive Pocket Change energy coming in from around the world and its potential impact…”

 

 

itsy bitsy art – innercanvas | “Several years ago, I helped 25 homeless teens make some ATC’s  to art “bomb” their neighborhood with.  They used their innate stealth to sneak ATC’s into coffee shop menus, used book store shelves, and corner store newsstands.  We had so much fun creating them and giving them to strangers.”

 

Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) & Building Community – Art Therapy Spot | “I was aware of how different it is to create on a small scale. Although I found myself working rather quickly at times, at other moments the small size helped me to slow down and become more familiar with the details.”

 

Tiny Weekends | “Tiny steps…tiny pieces of art.”

Stay connected here to receive an update of when the ATCs from this project are available to view online, as well as opportunities to read reflections about the impact of Pocket Changing!

Pocket Change: Creating Change through Small Creative Acts

Pocket Change: Creating Change through Small Creative Acts

A 6 Degrees of Creativity Artist Trading Card Exchange

6 Degrees of Creativity is very excited to be hosting this collaborative project focusing on the power of creating change through making something small (in the form of artist trading cards) and through engaging in simple acts of creative kindness.

This exchange was inspired by community members involved with 6 Degrees of Creativity 2 workshops who suggested having an ATC exchange a few months ago. Myself, Mindful Studio Practice Instructor Hannah Klaus Hunter, and 6 Degrees of Creativity 2 Community Member Beth Rommel then came together to co-create & organize this project. We hope this swap helps create new connections, inspires positive energy, and creates a good reason to make & receive some art in this New Year!

General Overview

• Participants will create 4 ATCs and will get back 3 from others who are participating in the exchange. Our swap’s theme: Pocket Change is all about how simple and small acts can create and instill kindness, gratitude, and change. For your ATCs, think about the power of your mini artworks as a means to express and share a positive image, message, or intention with others and the world.

• The fourth ATC will be kept by the host organizers for coordinating the exchange. These ATCs may be posted on the 6 Degrees of Creativity Facebook Page or this blog to showcase the project and help spread the project’s good vibes. We are also thinking about creating a fun, free eZine about the Pocket Change theme, stories, and ATCs the project received to keep sharing the love!

Mailing & Postage

• Participants will mail their 4 ATC’s by January 30, 2013. If you live in the US, please send a SASE with your ATCs. Please note that without a SASE, you cannot receive ATCs back. Late ATCs will not be accepted for exchange and will be returned. We will start mailing back exchanged ATCs to everyone at the end of February.

• If you live outside of the US, instead of including postage, please just include some extra fun collage stuff inside a self addressed envelope to cover this cost!

About ATCs & Guidelines for Exchange

• The dimensions of your ATCs should be 2.5″ x 3.5″, or 64 x 89mm. Tips, examples, techniques, and more can be found via this ATC how-to page.
  

• On the back of each ATC please include: your name, contact information (i.e. website/blog/e-mail address) that you are comfortable sharing with other swap participants.

• ATCs should be sturdy enough to travel through the mail. Wax paper or plastic sleeves should be used between your ATCs if they might stick together because of medium such as Mod Podge.  To make mailing easy, please keep your ATCs to two dimensional materials.

Spreading Creative Kindness!

• In addition to the ATC exchange, we also encourage you to spread more creative kindness through making Pocket Change ATCs for others (friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, colleagues, randomly leaving them in places for strangers, etc.).  Feel free to share with us how you used this act to keep the Pocket Change process going!

Sign Up

• Deadline to sign up for this exchange is January 15.  This exchange is open to art therapists, art therapy students, creatives, and artists who wants to make some creative goodness with us! E-mail 6degreesofcreativity@arttherapyalliance.org to sign up and to receive the project’s mailing address for your ATCs or if you have any questions. You can also send Pocket Change Acts of Creative Kindness stories to this e-mail as well. Please don’t sign up for this exchange unless you can make the commitment to follow through by January 30.

I hope you will consider joining us for this special project-We look forward to exchanging lots of creative goodness with you!

Sock Monkey Swap & Operation Sock Monkey Service Project!

It’s time for another 6 Degrees of Creativity Sock Monkey Swap!

Earlier this year, the 6 Degrees of Creativity community was inspired by Art Therapist Kat Thorsen’s Sock Monkey Therapy Workshop and we organized an exchange to swap sock monkeys with one another.

Now, the sock monkey fun continues for not only another swap, but also an opportunity to create a sock monkey to be donated to Operation Sock Monkey for someone in need.

Read below for more details about how to participate:

• Sock Monkey Swap:  Make a sock monkey, Receive a sock monkey! Everyone who signs up for the sock monkey swap will be randomly paired with another sock monkey maker.  You’ll be making one sock monkey for someone, and someone will be making one for you. To sign up for the swap, e-mail your name and a mailing address to Gretchen at 6degreesofcreativity@arttherapyalliance.org by November 12, 2012. During the week of November 12, you will receive mailing info on where to mail your sock monkey to. Please note you are responsible for postage, which may be to an international destination. Don’t sign up for the exchange unless you are committed to the swap and following through. All sock monkeys should be mailed out by December 10, 2012. to their new home.

• Sock Monkey Service Project– You can also create another sock monkey to be donated to Operation Sock Monkey (OSM). OSM is a volunteer-run initiative in support of humanitarian organizations that provide laughter, hope and healing to communities around the world affected by disease, disaster and social/political turmoil through sending handmade sock monkeys to children in need. Currently, we are working on trying to donate some of the sock monkeys to individuals who have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy. If you’re interested in creating and donating a sock monkey for this effort, send a message to the above e-mail by November 12 to receive more details. Thanks to OSM for their excitement & willingness to collaborate with this project!

Not sure what’s all involved or needed to make a handmade sock monkey? Check out this awesome and easy how-to video below featuring Kat walking you through step by step! Much thanks to Kat for her inspiration and on-going sock monkey mojo. You can learn more about Kat’s work here.

This swap and service project is open to anyone who wants to participate and help spread some sock monkey love!  It would be great to not only gift one another with our sock monkey creations, but to also make another sock monkey friend for a community in need.

Join us!