The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Art workshops give people with mental illness skills, confidence
MINNEAPOLIS — For Johanna Christianson, a free mosaic workshop is more than an art class. It’s a refuge.
“It’s the only time I can free my mind,” said Christianson, 46, of Minneapolis, as she proudly studied her mosaic of a purple-blue sky over a green house. “It helps me stay out of my head and bring it to a peaceful place.”
Christianson is one of several people who have participated in a series of free arts workshops this year through Avivo, a Minneapolis-based mental health nonprofit. The Avivo program is part of a new partnership with COMPAS, a St. Paul arts nonprofit with more than 100 teaching artists.
By teaching new skills to people living with a mental illness, the classes help boost their confidence and socialization with people who can relate to their challenges.
The 24 workshops in subjects from poetry to painting are funded by a $25,000 grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
The partnership is increasing the number of people who benefit by hosting art workshops at community support programs in the Twin Cities area. The workshops provide a way for participants to express themselves through art and be defined by more than a mental illness.
“Art can make change and create community and build skills; it’s more than art-making,” said Jes Reyes, the program coordinator for Avivo ArtWorks, which supports artists living with mental illness.
“The community was so hungry for arts programming,” said Marlaine Cox, the arts program manager at COMPAS. “It’s a simple solution to a complicated problem.”
Christanson, who said she has a traumatic brain injury, has visited the Avivo studio three times a week for the past couple of years because doing art helps slow her rapid thoughts.
“I’m calm and relaxed,” she said.
Martha Bird, 55, of Minneapolis, has participated in six of the 24 arts workshops since April. As a professional artist who creates sculptural basketry, she said she wanted to stretch her skills and try other crafts, like acting.
Unlike a theater class in the community, which can be intimidating, attending a theater class at Avivo removes that pressure because it’s held in an understanding environment, with people who are going through similar challenges and can support one another, she said.
Berta, a Minneapolis woman who declined to use her last name, had been homeless for about two weekswhenshegothelpfromAvivo and heard about the free class.
“It keeps my mind off a lot that’s happening,” she said as she finished creating her mosaic.