by Dru Phoenix
I was a volunteer helper at the Transformational and Healing Conference
awhile back. My job was to help an instructor set up art supplies and greet
attendees and hand out evaluations, etc. I chose to volunteer in a workshop
that I was particularly interested in because there would be art making.
The workshop began and was going quite well when we were asked to spend time
making art. I could not do it. Furthermore, I went into resistance and
really felt myself digging in. I did NOT want to make art. I am unsure where
this came from, but after a half hour of stalling and grumbling to myself we
were told we had 15 minutes left and so I threw something together as I
continued to struggle. Then the workshop leader said there were only a few
minutes left to finish our creation. I guess this was my kick start to
create and complete something satisfactory. As we showed others our
creations a few people commented that it looked like I had made an angel.
How odd, I thought, I was a bit of a devil during most of this process. Upon
reflection, I had to acknowledge that the resistance, as uncomfortable as
it was, seemed to be a real part of the process for me that day and for
whatever reason helped me to come to a good place to create a piece I
enjoyed as well as others.
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.
