An artist's monthly reflections on working with youth as they discover expression through art.
Micala Gingrich-Gaylord, the Expressive Arts Center (EAC) Coordinator at the Newton PRTF, has spent the last five years of her career at Youthville streamlining art into the daily routine of the children residing there.
"We have provided basic foundational material for learning more about expression and the youth have been the courageous ones who have taken that and flown with it," said Micala. (The names in this journal have been changed to protect client confidentiality)
In a recent group with collective images the group decided on using the heart as an image. On of the girls stated that the heart represented a lot of things, love, peace and the like. She also stated that it represented power, because it heals well. In the spirit of Valentines day I think she could have put it not better. Healing is important and the creative process helps facilitate this process that for some may take the rest of their lives. Spring hopes are in the air and we will be have been busy planning our annual Survivor event. The theme this year is "The Greek Gods Among Us." The entire week will be filled with events for the kids while they are out of school for spring break.