This is the most recent project in my History of Art Therapy: Current Trends class at Southwestern. The assignment was started in class, and finished at home. Inspired by Lori Mackey’s “Sole Impressions” project, shoes created by cancer survivors and their families at the Wellness Center in Chicogo, as well as Chun-Shan Yi’s article “From Imperfect to I Am Perfect,” found in Moon’s Materials in Art Therapy, this project included artistically representing one’s personal journey on one shoe, and the projected journey of the student’s population of choice on the other shoe. Students used plaster, paint, sewed on objects, sharpie markers, stones, wire, found objects, personal objects, magazine pictures, and more. Many found parallels between their personal journey and their understanding of their population’s possible journeys.
Questions to ponder: How do we walk in our own shoes? Where have our shoes taken us? What have we left? Where are we going? Where have our clients been? Where are they walking to? What are we all tripping over? Or kicking? Do these shoes still fit?
2 Comments for Journey Shoes 2/24/2012
Hi Christina,
Thanks for the comment. I can imagine that storefront being amazing… Are you still in New Mexico? Where will you be volunteering? I work for Youth Shelters, who in part serves homeless youth. I think you are right, this would be a very powerful project for youth who have been traveling by foot and surviving by sense. What type of additional information are you looking for? Types of material suggestions? Directive ideas? Let me know.
Also, I will be teaching a workshop on Journey Shoes with “6 Degrees of Creativity” though Art Therapy Alliance, along with other inspiring workshops and instructors – if you are interested in this check out: ” target=”ejejcsingle”>Click here to visit 6 Degrees of Creativity 2 , there are links regarding the workshops.
Let me know if you have other questions!
Magdalena
About the Moderator
Magdalena is the moderator of the online Art Gallery and Paintsplash for Southwestern College. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the college in the Art Therapy program. Magdalena is a therapist at Youth Shelters in Santa Fe, working with Art, Sandplay, and relationship focused techniques with families, adults, teens, and children.
Hi Magdalena,
I really enjoyed your post regarding Journey Shoes. It reminds me of a storefront exhibit I saw in NM many years ago that engaged homeless people in a similar project. I am looking to volunteer some time at my local shelter for street youth and I think this would be a very powerful project to do with them. Might you have any additional information or resources to share?
Thanks,
Christina