Past Events
American Art Therapy Association 2010 Conference – Sacramento, CA
The 41st Annual American Art Therapy Association Conference, Art Therapy: Awakening Awareness, was held in Sacramento, California, at the Sacramento Conference Center located just steps from the Capitol building and adjacent, splendid rose gardens. The conference commenced with an inspirational and informational plenary: Awakening Awareness: In the Client, the Community, and the Therapist. This presentation, which included examples of artwork, focused on Dementia and Alzheimer’s in older adults and the art therapy interventions and assessments that work best with this population. Keynote speakers were Wes “Scoop” Nisker, a Buddhist meditation teacher, author, radio commentator and performer and Seena B. Frost, M. Div., MA. Ms. Frost has been a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 1976, and devotes most of her time to SoulCollage®, a process she originated in the 1980’s, which promotes image, imagination, and intuition through the use of collage. The conference was well attended with 936 participants, making it the largest West Coast conference in AATA history!
In addition to ample inspiration and information, some of the highlights of the conference included a half-day advance practice course complete with lunch and art at a Napa winery. Conference attendees enjoyed a Night on the Town in downtown Sacramento complete with a gallery walk, including a fascinating display of the artwork of Shirley Mason, the inspiration for the movie Sybil. A larger collection of Ms. Mason’s work will be on display at the 42nd Annual American Art Therapy Conference, which will be held in Washington, DC in July of 2011./n
Members of the Northern California Art Therapy Association (NORCATA), who hosted this year’s conference, organized a service procject to benefit the Sacramento Food Bank. This organization hosts Women’s Wisdom Art, a unique program based on the presumption that artistic exploration naturally brings greater self-knowledge to women from all backgrounds. Canned goods donated by conference attendees were assembled into whimsical sculptures. At the end of the conference the scupltures were dismantled and the cans given to the food bank. Former Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association member Robin Valicenti, who recently relocated to Sacramento, was instrumental in organizing this event.
DVATA member Donna Kaiser, PhD., ATR-BC, who also serves on AATA’s Editorial Board, presented The Bird’s Nest Drawing, a focus group for art therapists interested in the Bird’s Nest Drawing in research and clinical use. Hahnemann Alumni, John Lutz, ATR-BC, LPC and Natalie Carlton, LPCC, ATR-BC had their film Identity in Art Therapy: I am, an expressive film which portrays existential approaches to art therapy using digital media, viewed as a part of the rough cuts film festival.
Additionally, members from the Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association also in attendance included Dr. Karen Clark-Shock, Dr. Nancy Gerber, Dr. Betty Hartzell, Johanna Kane, Juliet King, Rachel Oresky, Bob Schoenholtz, and Maureen Vita. Other former Delaware Valley art therapists in attendance included Elizabeth Beck, Lisa Rainey, Carrie Adcock Cottone, and Alix Von Auenmueller.
/n
Two Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association Board Members presented at the AATA Conference this year. Lee Ann Thill, MA, ATR-BC, Newsletter Chair, presented an experiential workshop entitled Trash to Treasure: Discovering the Value of Diabetes through Art Therapy. The workshop experiential employed the use of diabetes supply trash. During her presentation, Lee Ann spoke of her personal and professional experiences with diabetes. Lee Ann’s trip was partially made possible by funding from the DVATA Ron E. Hays Presenter’s Award for 2010. Public Relations, Co-Chair, Michelle L. Dean, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, CGP presented a paper: Bridging the Precipice & Befriending the Demon: Adolescent Girls & Eating Disorders, exploring the emergence of eating disordered symptoms in the adolescent girl from a symbolic, imagistic, and Jungian perspective.
DVATA member Donna Kaiser, PhD., ATR-BC, who also serves on AATA’s Editorial Board, presented The Bird’s Nest Drawing, a focus group for art therapists interested in the Bird’s Nest Drawing in research and clinical use. Hahnemann Alumni, John Lutz, ATR-BC, LPC and Natalie Carlton, LPCC, ATR-BC had their film Identity in Art Therapy: I am, an expressive film which portrays existential approaches to art therapy using digital media, viewed as a part of the rough cuts film festival.
Additionally, members from the Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association also in attendance included Dr. Karen Clark-Shock, Dr. Nancy Gerber, Dr. Betty Hartzell, Johanna Kane, Juliet King, Rachel Oresky, Bob Schoenholtz, and Maureen Vita. Other former Delaware Valley art therapists in attendance included Elizabeth Beck, Lisa Rainey, Carrie Adcock Cottone and Alix Von Auenmueller.
Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association 2010 Conference
The Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association held its annual conference: The Lens of Transformation: Envisioning Therapeutic Change Through Art Therapy at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott welcoming 132 members and guests on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Corinne Greskiewicz, President of the Delaware Valley Art therapy Association welcomed the participants and thanked the board for their hard work in organizing the conference. She introduced this year’s awards including the newly created Ronald E. Hays Presenter’s Award which offers financial support to enable members to present their work at the annual American Art Therapy Association conference. This year’s recipient was Michelle L. Dean who presented an advanced practice course entitled, “Creating a Private Practice or Consulting Business that is Right For You!”. Michelle accepted the award sharing her heartfelt thanks and honoring Ron Hays for his dedication to the field of art therapy as well as for his support and encouragement of students in presenting their work. Ron and Nancy Hays were in attendance as honored guests.
Ron and Nancy Hays with their daughter
The Innovative Applications in Art Therapy was awarded to Mark Dean whose 15 year clinical career as a board certified, registered art psychotherapist and licensed professional counselor includes work in private practice, serving as an Adjunct Professor at Arcadia University, numerous awards including the National Endowment for the Arts Award and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts awards for his artistic work, as well as extensive volunteer work. Mark currently provides clinical care to patients of all ages at Main Line Clinical Affiliates, and he is also an analytic training candidate with the Inter-regional Society of Jungian Analysts through the Philadelphia Association of Jungian Analysts.
Betty accepting DVATA's Honorary Lifetime Award, from President Corinne Greskiewicz
The Honorary Life Member Award was presented to Dr. Elizabeth “Betty” Hartzell who humbly accepted the award stating that although she was the one accepting that day, the award represented all the art therapists in the room who are hard at work in their own lives and careers. Dr. Hartzell has been employed for over 20 years in positions of therapist, supervisor, professor, and administrator in a number of Delaware Valley Hospitals, colleges and agencies. In addition she has worked in private practice as well as in an Art Therapy consulting business. Much of her work has been focused on Multicultural Art therapy as well as Jungian Psychology. Dr. Hartzell is currently an Assistant Professor and the Assistant Director of Art Therapy in the Hahnemann Creative Arts in Therapy Program at Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professionals.
Judy Weiser
The keynote address, “A Picture is Worth (More Than!) a Thousand Words: An Introduction to Photo Therapy, Therapeutic Photography and Photo -Art -Therapy Techniques” featured Judy Weiser R. Psych, ATR. Ms. Weiser, who is an early pioneer of “photo therapy techniques” travelled from her home in Canada to provide the keynote address , a workshop: “Ethical Considerations in Using Photos and Videos in (or as)Therapy” as well as a full-day Photo Therapy Techniques Introductory Experiential workshop on Sunday. Ms. Weiser shared that she was previously invited to the 1992 Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association conference -her first invitation to serve as keynote by an art therapy group. “It is a pleasure to return again”. Ms. Weiser is the Founder and Director of The Photo Therapy Centre in Vancouver and former editor of the Journal of Photo Therapy. In addition, she authored the book entitled, Photo Therapy Techniques: Exploring the Secrets of Personal Snapshots and Family Albums which she autographed for many conference attendees. Many thanks to Judy Weiser who helped instill an appreciation for the use of photos and Photo Therapy. According to Ms. Weiser, “Photos are footprints of our lives and mirrors of our minds.” “When you hold a photo, it’s not just a piece of paper, you’re holding a moment in time frozen forever.” “Every photo has stories to tell, secrets to share if only asked.” Ms. Weiser taught the importance of art therapists being open/willing to do the asking and for that we are truly grateful.
This year’s conference featured many talented presenters offering a wide variety of valuable topics. The Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association would like to thank the following presenters for sharing their expertise:
Barbara Parker-Bell, PsyD, ATR-BC, LPC – Coping Captains: Designing Treatment Approaches for Children with Anxiety Disorders Incorporating Art, Comic-Life Software and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Natalie Carlton, LPCC, ATR-BC – Spirit of Cloth: Fabric Works in Art Therapy
Amanda Bechtel, MS, ATR, LCPC – Rewriting Life Stories: The Altered Book as a Tool of Transformation
Rebecca Beers-Miller, MA, ATR-BC, LCAT, CCLS – Activating Potential: A Play -Oriented Art Therapy Approach with Survivors of Developmental Trauma
Terri Shane Willis, ATR-BC – Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones…But I Still Have a Voice!
Jennifer August, MCAT, ATR – “You’re Wildly Creative!” Groups: Practicing the Divergent Aspects of Inspired Change
Allison Miskulin, ATR-BC, LPC, LCADC – Art Therapy: Promoting Support for Those with Co-Occurring Disorders in the Substance Abuse Facility
Michelle L. Dean, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, CGP - Drawing on Your Strengths: Creating a Private Practice or Consulting Business That is Right For You!
The Silent Art Auction
A special Art @ 8 evening event entitled, Trash to Treasure: Discovering the Value of Diabetes Through Art Therapy was offered by Lee Ann Thill, MA, ATR-BC. This art making workshop provided the participants with an opportunity to learn about factors affecting those with diabetes. In turn they were able to utilize the discards of diabetes self-management and various art materials to create an art object. Thanks to Ms. Thill for providing an interesting and fun opportunity for creative self-expression.The Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association board members wish to thank all who made the conference such a great success! And thanks to all who came from far and near. We would like to cordially invite you to join us again next year on Saturday, January 29, 2011 for the Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association Conference which will feature keynote speaker Shaun McNiff.
Shaun McNiff: 2011 Invited Keynote - Welcoming the Shadow and Its Place in Art and Healing