What is A Visions of Us Event?

Peace Percolators (2011), R. D. Lindsey with various youth groups

A Visions of Us Event is art with a purpose.  It allows a community to work together for a specific purpose over a period time.  A Visions of Us Event is more than an art workshop.  It is an experience.  People talk, bond, grow, and create together.  The Event develops over a nine week period where participants meet for two hours each week in partnership with an established after school or community program.  It is an opportunity to discover what is important to an individual and how that impacts the community.  It is a chance for a community to use their collective energies to create a lasting testament showing their commitment towards achieving a common goal.

Youth drawing at Tolman Library (2010)

Stitching art symbolizing self

A Visions of Us Event has three parts:   1. Journaling  2. Visual Expression 3. Community Sharing.  JOURNALING begins with the event facilitator leading participants through a series of activities adding words and drawings to an artist’s sketch book to identify individual goals, dreams, and concerns.  Then participants learn about VISUAL EXPRESSION by discovering how various visual artists use fabric, paper, and paint to express  themselves through art.   Primarily using techniques associated with quilting and collage, participants create an individual and collaborative piece of multi-media art reflecting their journaling discoveries.  Finally, COMMUNITY SHARING happens through a community art exhibit.  Participants display and discuss their individual works of art. In addition, the collaborative art piece is presented as a gift to the community for permanent display.

Example of Gr 4-5 individual multi-media art

A Vision of Us Event can be designed to meet the needs of participants of various ages in groups of 6 – 10.  Specific Events are designed for participants in grades 1-3 and 4-5.  Events for middle school, high school, and adult participants follow the basic framework; however, participants work with the facilitator to develop the event.   Are you interested in hosting a Visions of Us Event?  Leave a comment to this post with your contact information.  Your contact information will be kept confidential.

Each Vision of Us Event is an activity of the Visions of Us Project.  Make a tax deductible donation to the Visions of Us Project by visiting http://www.indiegogo.com/Visions-of-Us-Project.