WOW Wednesday: "Signs of Life"

Today has been non-stop crazy nuts... Finally back to update the second post for the day

I pulled my ceramic vessels out of the kiln room and I am really digging those, too. I just had to apply some overgrazes and back into the kiln they went. Friday we will be graded on all of our work from throughout the semester.... no pressure, right?!

wires and circuits and tiny boxes with buttons yayyyy

 I received an awesome assessment from the high school teacher I worked with these past few weeks, which was another win for the day. In addition to that we are putting together work for the high school student art exhibition at a local art gallery. I will be curating and organizing that with my professor next week to make up for 'lost time' in his course during teaching dates. I will be displaying the work of the students without names (as per their request) and including their personal reflection sheets next to the pieces. I wanted to showcase the students' writing and responses that they made before beginning work on the project.


Speaking of projects.. we did a really cool one in my Art Education course a while back and I want to  reexamine that lesson here!

Signs of Life: The Meaning of Shapes and Positions

**This lesson was based on Angeles Arrien's book, Signs of Life: The Five Universal Shapes and How to Use Them. (New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, 1998)

Shape your Talents

This was an art therapy exercise that we explored in class and I thought it was really cool.. and personal. I will be transcribing the lesson plan as it was given to me in class on a handout.

The most powerful statement?: "Here is an art therapy exercise designed to help you become clearer on who you are, what you want, and the things you live to do without "perhaps" being consciously aware that you are doing so."

five universal shapes

To start with, as shown above, the five universal shapes are: Circle, Square, Triangle, Cross, Spiral. Each shape has a specific meaning or interpretation of meaning which will be discussed later.

To begin the exercise, draw the five universal shapes listed above in the order of your preference. Be sure to indicate clearly which shape goes in which position; both aspects of this activity are vital to the results.

1.     2.     3.     4.     5.  

My choices were: 1. Circle 2. Cross 3. Triangle 4. Square 5. Spiral

Next, make a collage using the shape you placed in position number two. This shape will be the dominant design shape. Other shapes may be incorporated into your collage as long as they remain secondary to your major design shape. To make your collage, choose a large white sheet of paper and as many colored papers as you like. Cut or tear the papers, intuitively arrange them, and glue them down on the large white sheet of paper. Remember, there is no right or wrong design, just what ever design you choose. When you have completed your collage, place it where you will be able to see it in full view.

Now, use your collage to evoke creative insights. Ask yourself what does the shape in position number two mean to me (you) personally? How does this shape express itself and arrange itself in my collage? Look at your collage and write down your reactions.

Next, use your imagination and dialogue with your collage (sounds hokey but it was actually pretty cool). Let your collage speak to you, e.g. "I am a composition of your strengths, passions, skills, and talents, I am...." and write it out. Have a conversation with specific areas of your collage, asking questions and responding to what that particular area has to say to you. Try not to censor or judge what you write. Dialogue as tara s it feels right for you. Read what you have written and once more write down any feelings or thoughts you have in reaction. Finally, consider how your writings relate to your strengths, skills, talents, and passions.

Meanings of Shapes: 
Circle: wholeness/unity. Person seeks space in which to develop. Needs independence/individuation. Fears entrapment/restriction

Square: Stability. Person seeks solidarity/foundation/security/results. Needs consistency/accountability/completion. Fears that nothing will be accomplished or that one's efforts will be wasted.

Triangle: goals/dreams/visions. Person seems self-discovery/revelation. Needs to follow dreams. Fears that there may be no dreams to pursue.

Cross: relationship/integration. Person seeks balance/quality shared time. Needs connections/synthesis. Fears loss/abandonment/isolation.

Spiral: Growth/change. Person seeks variety/novelty.change. Needs creativity/flexibility. Fears routine/repetitive tasks.

Here's where it gets really crazy!. The position you placed the shapes into has its own significance and meaning. The entire exercise is based in meaning and personal exploration.


Meanings of Positions:
Position 1: Where you currently are. This shape describes the part of you that you know best and with which you are most comfortable.

my collage - packed with information!

Position 2: Your strengths, skills, talents, and passions. It symbolizes the areas of your Self that are currently strong, fluid, and resourceful.

Position 3: What is really going on in your life whether you are consciously aware of it or not.

Position 4: Your motivation. This shape furnishes clarifying information about what has provoked you to do things they way you do.

Position 5: Unfinished business. This is your least preferred shape because it indicates unresolved issues you wish to put aside.

Reflections:
There was a series of questions to help us journal about our work... I have shared my responses as a healing tool.

1. How does this shape hold significance for you? Is it a symbol? How is the shape used? (Concerning the dominant shape, the cross)

Equality, balance, control, 'crossroads', structure, core.
The 'plus' sign shape is used repeatedly both as a focal point as an accent. It grounds and guides the other shapes in many directions but is very rarely interacted with or touched.

2. What would your collage 'say' to you?

My collage would say to me: I am feeling overwhelmed by the problems of other people. I want to offer help and advice but I feel as though my thoughts and ideas are ignored. Meanwhile, I have a lot going on in my own life which is starting to weigh heavily on me. I am the core of many of my friend groups but I am starting to crumble and feel like everyone is too self-involved to see that. All of my relationships are stressful. Spreading myself too thin....

3. Strengths, Skills, Talents, Passions: Represented in this exercise?

steadfast, certain, stubborn, strong, independent, helpful, caring, involved, balanced

I thought this was a really cool, transformative, and enlightening activity. I will be incorporating it into my teaching in the not-so-distant future. I think the use of recognizable, but varied, shapes is a safe way for students to express themselves symbolically. IT WAS SO COOL. I was pretty moved by my own realizations..and by what I was pushing down.

I highly recommend it.. and now it's time to conclude another WOW Wednesday and head to the studio. As per usual... I have a lot of timing work to do so the fishes aren't quite so spastic haha

Until next time,

Ms. Kanak