Welcome to Arts and Wellness Wednesdays, where I speak with artist Khuumba Ama at the Caribbean Fine Art Fair. Khuumba
Born in Savannah, Georgia and later moved to Harlem USA, is a full-time Multi-media artist of original and one-of-a-kind creations. She is a teaching artist and mentor to assist children in self-esteem workshops and designed a creative program to help seniors living with dementia.
Check out what she had to say about the work that she does and the inspiration behind her art.
Here are the images 33 - 40 of the 100 Pastel Drawings that I have been doing on the #100dayproject2019
I had a couple of days where I didn't feel like creating which is weird, but kept going, you have to, and reminded myself that I am showing up for me. The project isn't about anyone else, but wanting to go on a journey with the pastels and use the supplies that I have.
If you would like to see the daily images you can come visit me on Instagram. Next week I will begin sharing some of the videos that I will be creating weekly for some of the images, it is always great to see how artist approach their work, and I hope that you find some inspiration while watchin.
You will be able to see the first of the weekly videos here when I share videos 41 - 48 or join me on YouTube, I am hoping that they will inspire you to get out your supplies and create. I will be sharing the full video on my Patreon Site, which you are welcome to join.
To see a selection of pastels and accessories on Amazon click HERE
Welcome to the Episode 81 of the Podcast and the Arts and Wellness, where the focus is on the Arts and how it can impact our health and well-being. I will be talking with artists, looking at activities that you can do to be more creative across the board and for those who are carers tips and strategies that you can use. I will also be sharing reviews, resources and other insights. I will be looking at the nuggets that the artists share and see how we can apply it in some way to our own lives, what ever your interests.
Lisa Mona - Artist
In this Episode I spoke to artist Lisa Mona who was exhibiting at the Caribbean Fine Art Fair. Lisa Mona was born in Barbados with a diverse cultural background which has fashioned her artwork in an eclectic way. Her body of work is influenced by the beauty of simplicity itself, natures's colors and its organic shapes. She expresses herself through photography, jewelry, design and abstract paintings.
Listen to her interview below:
Watch the Video on YouTube
So some of the takeaways from Lisa was the connection with nature and looking at the fine detail when she is putting her work together.
When we think about arts and health some of the ways in which we can incorporate some of the things Lisa does in her work is to take time out to notice things in nature. Step outside, open your windows and get some fresh air, listen to the sounds that you can hear around you, the colours and the shapes, what do they remind you of?
If you are a carer you can think about reminiscence and looking at old photos and getting your loved one to talk about the people and actions in the pictures. If you don't have access to photos you can get together a selection of well known celebrities that they would recognize and have a conversation about them.
Take some photographs yourself, go for a walk and see what things you can photograph, especially within their local area that they could talk about or could be a starting point to a conversation.
The appeal of nature
Being out in the sunshine, feeling the breeze on your skin is important for us all to experience and with the majority of us being Vitamin D deficient it is important to spend time daily where possible outdoors.
I hope that this has been useful. Sign up for my mailing list and YouTube channel for more ideas on being creative.
I have started a new episode of talks on the Podcast, which covers Arts and Wellness. I will be talking to artists about their work and how it impacts on their wellbeing, reviewing books, materials and supplies that promote using art as a therapeutic tool and more, and also talk about ways in which we can use art more in our daily lives. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing short interviews that I had with a variety of artist who exhibited at the Caribbean Fine Art Fair which happens in March every year in Barbados.
I got to talk briefly with Minister John King the Cultural
Minister for Arts here in Barbados while he opened the Caribbean Fine Arts Fair
a yearly Art Exhibition, bringing in Artists from all around the world.Minister John King he shared briefly on some
of the plans they have for the arts and National Art Gallery in Barbados.Minister King started his career as a
singer/performer and brings his experience as to his role and insight to some
of the needs of the arts here in Barbados.
Here is the brief talk with on my Arts and Wellness Episode with Minister King.
Some of the takeaways from the talk is the need to raise
awareness of the arts and artists in Barbados, showcasing the work of artists
and looking at building that are empty and can be utilized better.
Artist, Mother, and more - Mavis Trought
Part of my experience is as a carer and an artist with the
elderly with dementia and their carers and running art and creativity workshops. Some of the things that he said
about the buildings that had been disregarded and left to run down – with so
much history that they could tell us about Barbados, struck a similar note in
the way that the elderly are treated around the world. One of the things that seems to be changing
as a community is the lack of value that we place on our elderly within the
community, with so many feeling isolated, on their own, families fragmented and
they get forgotten.There is so much
wisdom that they have that can often be lost over the generations and we have
to find ways to harness their knowledge and find a way where we can create
inter-generational projects to pass on their wisdom.
In the fast paced life our elderly become casualties, like
the throwaway containers their knowledge becomes undocumented, distant until no one
remembers.We have to spend more time
with them and each other have meaning conversations and experiences, understanding their lives
can still be fulfilling and find ways for the generations to interact and learn
from each other.
So something for you to think about in your creative
interactions is how you can utilize your creative skills to impact on the life
of someone who is an elder and living on their own, or in a care home.How can you be of service and be a blessing
touching the life of someone else.
The next Arts and Wellness podcast will feature artist and photographer Lisa Mona. Sign up to my mailing list and join me each week. The show scheduling is as follows:
Realityarts - Creativity Book Shop - Some really great titles for you to dive in
Creative Resources
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