We recently held a Chill & Spill workshop for youth in foster care and had over 30 teens and ‘tweens in attendance. The population, to our great surprise, was largely Spanish speaking.
The fast paced, private workshop took place at the YMCA Young Adult Services “hang-out room” that we transformed into a pizza-eating, artistic studio environment. With one photographer on-hand we asked the kids to wear green wrist bands as a visual cue as the go ahead to take their photo, since approximately half the kids could not have their photo taken because of safety reasons.
Sean works closely with his kids from CCS
Some teens arrived surly and were sizing up each other. Others arrived excited to do art, but unsure of what they had gotten themselves into. The workshop was centered around one of Chill & Spill’s activities, called “Powerful/ Powerless.” In case you didn’t know, Chill & Spill is one of Art with Heart’s popular therapeutic books that was specifically created with teens and ‘tweens in mind. It’s hip, engaging and fun ”“ so fun, in fact, that the kids don’t even realize that it is therapeutically based (or, as we adults say, “Good for you!”).
We invited Community Partners from YMCA, Treehouse, Catholic Community Services and YouthCare who brought a total of 30 teens and young adults to the event. Because we knew that we would have a large Spanish speaking population in attendance, a volunteer graciously translated our workshop handouts so that all the kids could be involved without any barriers.
When the kids first arrived, we offered pizza, grapes, and other goodies to help them chill and feel comfortable. As they were eating, talking and hanging out, we then explained (with the help of three Spanish speaking interpreters) about the first step in this “Powerful/Powerless” activity, a writing activity which prompted them to write words that made them feel powerful and powerless. Their lists consisted of things situations, people, places and more that made them feel one of the two ways. The room grew quiet for the first time, as they explored their answers.
Working side-by-side as the process begins
The second step in the process was to demonstrate Art with Heart’s exciting mixed-media methods of how to create collages that really expressed the personal power that each youth had discovered. After the demo, the kids began cutting out images from magazines that they would use in their collages, based only on their “Powerful” list. The reason behind this is that we wanted them to realize that their own personal power, or strength, is not something that’s “out there” and unattainable, but rather something that already exists inside them.
And, oh my goodness…the images that the kids chose to represent them were incredible, to say the least. These images formed the foundation for their collage, which was transferred to a transparent medium and affixed to a media board that they had painted colors that represented what “Powerful” meant to them.
Beaming with pride and holding her art close to her heart
The kids loved the process, as well as the end result. They had never done art so unusual and cool!
The workshop ended as it began with a writing exercise. We asked the kids to explain what their artwork meant to them through an artist’s statement. The biggest change of all was seen in the kid’s body language their faces glowed with pride, and their reactions to one another (and to the adults in the room) were totally opposite from when they arrived. The process worked. The magic that happens when kids have the chance to tell their stories through art was totally incredible. We are all still blown away!
Now, comes the fun part! We have been invited by the YMCA Triangle Art Gallery to hang the kids’ artwork and are hosting a reception on December 2nd during the First Thursday Art Walk! The young artists will be in attendance, along with many others. We invite you to come and honor their gifts and the risk they took to explore how they are powerful in their own lives.
Please join us at the Gallery Event: Thursday, December 2nd from 4:30 – 8 pm
at the Triangle Art Gallery
909 Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle
We hope to see you there!
