Show & Tell at Children's Mental Health
Posted on May 4th, 2008
by 
Ivan Chan Studio
Ivan Chan Studio
I've been invited to exhibit my Original Finger Paintings at Children's Mental Health in Santa Cruz, California.
It's an honor to be chosen, knowing that my bright colors and peaceful subjects will bring fun, calm, and beauty to a place for healers and those seeking healing.
Please visit my main blog, Insight, to see the selected works and also visit the Events section of my web site, under About, for more information if you'd like to see my Original Finger Paintings in person!
Gratefully,
I.
It's an honor to be chosen, knowing that my bright colors and peaceful subjects will bring fun, calm, and beauty to a place for healers and those seeking healing.
Please visit my main blog, Insight, to see the selected works and also visit the Events section of my web site, under About, for more information if you'd like to see my Original Finger Paintings in person!
Gratefully,
I.
Access: Public
art
August 2008 
Bravo! I think your art has great potential in getting kids (or anyone) to talk about what's going on inside them, things of the spirit.
I hadn't seen the “Fugu!” before. To me, that is the closest representation of fun that I've ever seen.
Thank you for enriching and inspiriting my life with your art.
You're welcome, Lone Turtle.
My art is very different from what's been exhibited at the building already, and I've had a strong response from the therapists and mental health workers that passed me as I installed the exhibit. It was encouraging, as well as enriching and inspiring to my life, too.
Thanks for taking the time to check out my work!
Take care,
I.
I'm still going to get some of it too, but now it'll take a while to decide on which; there are just so many that have already affected how I see life and what's around me.
Have you thought about going to CMH and talking to the kids themselves - or even just the staff - about your art, or is it already “show and tell” for that too? That would make an even greater impact. Just meeting the originator of a piece, whether writing or any other kind of art, is very helpful; and you could throw in a bit of 'teaching' about how you do your work and what inspires you.
I remember getting to know my first professional artist friend and what I learned from him about seeing and how to look. Just an idea.. not sure if that would be possible.
blessings,
loneturtle
That's a really great idea, and I'll talk to the supervisors there that invited me to do the art show. They're planning a reception for sure, but that's for the staff and guests, not so much focused on the children receiving services–however, I can see a separate event, involving a talk, would be beneficial.
I used to work in a classroom and sometimes the teachers would let me teach the class how to draw something, and that was always satisfying for the class and me, because I didn't really teach the kids how to draw, but how to slow down, pay attention, and see.
Thanks for reminding me of this possibility again!
Take care,
I.
You're very welcome, Ivan! I'm always encouraged when I follow my intuition's guidance and say something that I have no basis for even guessing at and it turns out well.
Sounds like you have some of the teacher in you; I do, too - a lot! If you'd like to talk more about ideas, ever, we could do that on email. I'd enjoy it; it's one of the things I do for fun.
All the best!
Thanks for your offer! :)
Take care,
I.