This week started off really well with my Monday group at the prison. For the opening I suggested the group share a color that we could feel connected to that day. It was an unusually small group, and so, before everyone shared their colors, I had an idea. I wrote down each color mentioned and then, as I sat with the women chatting, I colored a piece of paper in a gradient of the colors and cut it into strips to make little bookmarks. Before making the gradient, I had found each color and then laid them out in an order that looked nice. While doing this and chatting with the women, I made sure to notice their process and reflect it back to them. The two women mentioned that this time was very calming and quiet for them and that just being there felt therapeutic.
Once the hour was up, we got into the closing circle and, before the women shared for whom they made their cards, I handed out my bookmarks. I explained my process to them and said that it was like a picture of our night together. It made me really happy that the women were excited and appreciative to receive something themselves. One woman mentioned that she would hang it up in her room. With such a short amount of time with the women and in a program that has a specific purpose (card-making), I want to continue to find ways like this to build deeper connections with the women and between the women when they come. I hope that they can feel seen as individuals and valued within the group.
Common art on Wednesday went smoothly. I led a group in creating art by using fallen leaves as stamps. I also would like to also mention Boston Warm, which is held on Friday. Since the program started back up in October, we have had sparse attendance, which was also the case this past Friday. I was able, however, to engage with two community members and even had them making some art with me. One of the men was new to the program, so I was excited when he recalled making art as a child and agreed to draw me something that he remembered. The small doodling we did may seem insignificant, but to me even a small engagement in art making is a major step. The two men I spent time with seemed happier after creating and watching me create. Engaging in art making when you don’t consider yourself an artist is a big accomplishment, so I hope they both felt encouraged to appreciate their creative abilities.
— Marielle Carpentier