Where does inspiration come from
at My Voice Media Center?
Developing a committee for the Installation project during covid-19 was an easy feat via our ZOOM platform. Our Executive director had created a weekly check-in that was designed for a continued communication between participants, new participants, facilitators and staff at My Voice Media Center. We continued to use these meetings to check in as well as develop a plan for an installation project.
The installation project was up from May 2021, Mental Health Awareness Month, until June 2021. My Voice Media Center is a mental health outreach, so we celebrate May and we're glad to have experienced this now method of creating one of the largest projects that we have seen yet. Created using talents from all over the 12 sessions that we have, the committee worked hard in planning, taking notes and solving problems.
The procedure was organized that most of the projects would be designed and created in the 2D and 3D Art Session, where the main projects were created like puzzle pieces and then the frame was to be designed and built by the Construction Crew and many others. The frame went through a few different designs before the final idea was presented to the committee and began its necessary supply order list.
Once supplies were prepared and each project was complete we opened to the public for viewing and to enjoy its interactive feature of being able to sit underneath and have your portrait taken in the photography session.
Interviews with the Committee:
Susan- President
What did you think about being on a committee, or have you been on one before?
"Yes, i have been on a committee before. I wasn't like in the installation, but I took a leadership class in college."
What would you say you benefitted or enjoyed most about this type of artwork?
It was fun to do...to socialize with other people I have not known before and I hope we do more installation projects in the future.
Vicky-Secretary(unavailable for interview)
What did you think about being on a committee, or have you been on one before?
What would you say you benefitted or enjoyed most about this type of artwork?
Sheila-Vice President
What did you think about being on a committee, or have you been on a committee before?
"Yes, actually I have been on a committee before." Everyone worked very hard
What would you say you benefitted or enjoyed most about this type of artwork?
"Collaborating and figuring out how to fit everything together, how everyone had an opinion, how everyone had a part and how Ampelio P.-Executive Director helped put the arch idea and helped" us follow through.
Nelson-Construction Crew
What did you think about being on a committee, or have you been on one before?
"Yes...organize, time...made it more of a fun activity, planning is time..do little sketches...we were able to work the 'second floor' and work the next level," like having spotters.
"Being a leader, you guys were there...we didn't know what it looks like...arts and crafts...helped us organize...our style of rising to the occasion", responsibility.
What would you say you benefitted or enjoyed most about this type of artwork?
Michael-Construction Crew
Kathy-Parent Participant and Volunteer; Construction Crew
Volunteers: Lilly, Steven
(Others: Staff of the Arts Consortium, My Voice Media Center: Halonnah Kay, Project Coordinator, Olivia Garza, Peer Support Specialist and 2D/3D Art Facilitator, Ampelio Perez, Executive Director)
As Artists and individuals of wellness and recovery, we are many times seeking inspiration and avenues for ourselves and each other in our lives. We create art for many reasons. We are all practicing different ways of wellness. So, what is your inspiration, who helps you and how do you help yourself to the art world, to finding new ways to create and boldly communicate that which you wish to communicate.
EXPRESSION:
Expression is a big part of My Voice Media Center, we focus on wellness and recovery, but also on the expressive side of art and developing a pathway for a peer to discover what there may be out there that is helpful. In expression and guiding each other at MVMC we allow each other the opportunity to share art, talk about art, and learn skills designed to help accelerate the growth of an art form. Always learning, expression invites the ability to start communicating what there is to say with art, technique and the journey that is taken through the variety of free art sessions that are available.
12 sessions total, MVMC is a mental health advocacy and outreach for adults that have a direct relationship with mental health, or the direct family or friend that has also lived experienced mental health. Encouraging expression in various areas, there is opportunity to grow, create, study, and learn to practice art as expressing.
Art and Wellness: one of our free art sessions:
Our check-in, now known as Art and Wellness, is on Thursday's 2-3PM weekly on ZOOM. We discuss art topics and wellness, we choose another topic for next week and continue our journeys
through art and recovery. Our participants are welcome to attend, as well as facilitators, staff and special guests.
