Favicards and Art Therapy Alliance On The Go Project

Posted on: July 28th, 2011

California Favicard
Art Therapy Alliance On The Go is a project that Art Therapy Social Media Goddess, Gretchen Miller, launched last month that will promote social media and networking in Art Therapy. I just received my Art Therapy Alliance Favicard in the mail and am looking forward to seeing how creative I can be! What is a Favicard you ask? Well it’s basically Favicards, are business cards for your social network.

This project includes creating an image of the Art Therapy Alliance Favicard card “on the go” (think Flat Stanley, but of course with a high dose of creativity). This project will showcase the work of individuals and groups about the work they do, including their passion and focus. The image of Gumby and his Favicard is from the Rev. Patti Goldstein in Oakland, California who is an art therapist and artist in private practice. She specializes in art therapy with children and adolescents. I can’t wait to figure out my creative “On The Go” image. Take care,
Laura

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The Mural and An Author

Posted on: July 20th, 2011

Hi Friends,
The Deep Eddy Mural is close to being ready for grouting and sealing in the next week or two. It is all very exciting to see it all come together and the last bits of mosaic, and glasswork put in place. This image is not the best but shows you what the latter section is looking like.

Deep Eddy Mural Goodness

There are several volunteers each night and I have enjoyed getting know each and every one of them. One the volunteers who came up with the concept of a mural on the wall, Leila Levinson, has been working next to me on several occassions. Leila is an author of a book available on Amazon, Gated Grief.

On her website, Leila says that after the death of her father, a WWII U.S. Army doctor, she discovered a concealed box of shocking photos he had taken of a Nazi slave-labor camp.

She learned that her father suffered a breakdown after treating the camp’s survivors. She was compelled to seek out and interview dozens of WWII veterans who also liberated Nazi Concentration camps.

What I find fascinating about this story is the trauma of War being handed down from parent to child. So much art therapy is being done with veterans and I think it’s important to remember we can’t forget the children of these vets who suffer from PTSD as well.

I look forward to inviting everyone to the celebration of the mural in September. Take care,
and
Be Well,
Laura

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Deep Eddy Mural, Family and Final Push

Posted on: July 11th, 2011

Hi Friends,
As many of you know I have been working on the Deep Eddy Mural, funded in part by Austin’s Art in Public Places. When my fellow art therapist, Wanda Montemayor, asked me to help out on this project I did not realize my ancestor would be part of the mural and the history of Deep Eddy that the wall tells.

Here is a photo of the original home of Charles Johnson, my great great Grandfather, who owned the land where Deep Eddy now stands.

Here is a picture, although not great of the Charles Johnson house on the tile mural. It serves as the American Legion overlooking the banks of Lady Bird Lake near the hike and bike trail.

And here is one of the Charles Johnson Family

My great grandfather, Henry Johnson, is the oldest son on the front row to the far right with his arms folded. He and his sister opened the original bathing beach and camp ground before selling the place to Mr. Eilers.

Tonight we start the final week of buttering up tiles and filling in blank spaces between tiles or “nugging” as it is affectionately called. If you have a spare moment, come on down to the pool this week starting at 5:30pm to help clean, or “nug” or just cheer us on. Hopefully grouting will begin soon. She is a lovely mural indeed and she glitters at night. Great work Wanda and her other leader, Lisa Orr. Stay cool, and
Be well,
Laura

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