Art Therapy Fall Schedule (Season 16): Sept to Nov, 2022
- Thursdays – 4-6 pm – AIRY Teen Skills Group
- Saturdays – 12-2 pm – AIRY YA Skills Group
- Every other Saturday – 3-5 pm – The Togetherness Project
- Sundays – 11-1 pm – AIRY Music, Poetry and Art Group
- By appointment – AIRY Family Art Therapy
GROUP DESCRIPTIONS:
AIRY Teen Skills Group: Thurs – 4-6 pm – from Sept 15- Nov 17, 2022
This group teaches basic coping skills adopted from art therapy and DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) as well as best practices in suicide prevention, anti-bullying and alternatives to self harm. Skills include safety, nonjudgmental acceptance via mindfulness, emotion regulation, finding a middle path for balancing logic and emotions, distress tolerance and self-soothing, peer support and building healthy relationships. Skills are also taught in body image, sleep and nutrition and problem-solving family conflict. Modalities include drawing and painting, collage, clay sculpture, poetry, fiber arts, digital art and more. This group focuses on stabilization, and includes new and mid-level returning members.
Young Adult Skills Group: Sat – 12-2 pm – from Sept 17 – Nov 19, 2022
This group reinforces basic coping skills adopted from art therapy and DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) as well as best practices in suicide prevention and alternatives to self harm. Skills include completing safety plans, nonjudgmental acceptance via mindfulness, managing emotions, finding a middle path for balancing logic and emotions, and more specific coping skills for anxiety and depression. This group also focuses on young adult related issues such as planning future goals, managing a job and college related stressors as well as setting and maintaining boundaries in relationships. Modalities include drawing and painting, collage, clay sculpture, poetry, fiber arts, digital art and more. This group focuses on stabilization, and includes new and mid-level returning members.
Music, Poetry and Art Therapy Group (open to all ages): Sun – 11-1 pm – from Sept 18 – Nov 20, 2022
This new mixed age group will primarily use the sensory experience of sound and music as a modality to incorporate DBT skills into their day to day lives. Youth will learn to use musical instruments and songs to self soothe, and to write and reflect on song lyrics as a creative outlet as well as give visual representation in art making of their experience of music. Youth will work individually and collaboratively making music in the studio and have a guest mentor musician to assist them. No prior experience with music is necessary. Studio instruments are provided including ukulele, hand drums, tambourines, shakers, harmonicas, rain sticks, and thumb piano. Youth are also welcome to bring their own instruments.
The Togetherness Project: Every other Saturday from 3-5 pm from Aug 27 – Nov 26, 2022
The Togetherness Project involves AIRY teens and young adults visiting and making art with local residents in need of support, such as veterans, women recovering from domestic violence and young women of color. Connecting with these residents in a safe and positive way, will provide a different kind of mentorship experience for AIRY members. We will have a chance to learn about both the struggles and the strengths of people in need of support in our local community. Through the arts we can build a sense of much needed togetherness. Once a month AIRY members attend a site visit to a local organization (Soldier On, Elizabeth Freeman Center, R.O.P.E.) On the last Saturday of the month, they meet in the studio and make art for residents as an act of remembrance. Works by residents and AIRY members may be showcased alongside each other at a community art event in the Spring of 2023. Art projects include drip pour paintings, Satori circles, symbolic self-portrait paintings, and watercolor triptychs.
EVENTS
2022 Events
July 16, 2022 – 10-12 pm – AIRY Book Release Party for AIRY Members and Parents at NUarts Studios
June 18, 2022 – 10 to 11 am – Meet the Author at The Colonial Theatre, 111 South St in downtown Pittsfield, MA – Marney Schorr will be signing and reading from her book in a small cafe setting open to the public
March 19, 2022 – 2-4 pm – LOVE YOURSELF III – The Colonial Theatre in downtown Pittsfield.
Jan 15, 2022 – 2-3 pm – Youth Talk & Poetry Slam at CRUST Pizza
Jan 5 – Feb 15, 2022 – TOGETHERNESS Art Show at CRUST PIZZA
2021 Events
May 2021 – Art for Social Justice Project Virtual Art Show at MCLA
June-Aug 2021 – Art for Social Justice Project in person show and artists talk at Commonfolk, North Adams
2020 Events
February 2020 – Second Annual ¨Love Yourself¨ at the Colonial Theatre
August 2020 – AIRY Virtual Art Show June-August
June 2020 – AIRY Art in the Park
2019 Events
SUN, APRIL 14, 10 am, AIRY FILM SCREENING at Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield.
APRIL 5, 2019, 5-8 pm
Myth and Nature, solo exhibition of AIRY member, Rachael Bentz at Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield. 5-8 pm during First Fridays Artswalk. To view Rachaelś artwork see our menu page Youth Leadership for Success.
APRIL 5, 2019
Fostering Resilience and Connection. Berkshire County Suicide Prevention Conference, Crowne Plaza, Pittsfield. AIRY presentation co-facilitated by AIRY MCLA Interns Hunter Schrade and Kiara Bresett. For more info, see our For Professionals Page.
FEBRUARY 10, 2019
Love Yourself: In celebration of youth recovery and suicide prevention
http://www.theonlinebeacon.com/love-art-exhibition-opening-feb-10/
2018 EVENTS
DECEMBER 7, 2018
NUarts Holiday Celebration
AIRY and the community created holiday works of art with fabric weaves and cookie painting. For pics, visit NUarts at https://nuartsgallery.com/2018/12/02/nuarts-holiday-show-sale/.
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER
At the Whitney Center for the Arts:
Fri, Oct 5th, “Hope is a Four Letter Word”, 5-8 pm (AIRY countywide art show)
Sat, Oct 6th, Poetry Slam and Open Mic! Hosted by Caz and company, all are welcome.
At Unitarian Universalist Church (Pittsfield):
Fri, Nov 2, “Messages of Hope” opening reception, 5-8 pm (selected works by Marney Schorr and AIRY youth artists).
Sun, Nov 4, Community Artist Talk with Marney Schorr, 10 am during Sunday service (coffee and conversation at 9:30 am). Marney will share stories of hope and healing in the AIRY program and lead a community talk about solving youth suicide through faith and action.
ON VIEW SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
“Hope is a Four Letter Word”
AIRY countywide art show featuring 22 young artists, paintings, masks, sculpture and written word. Works range from $5 to $250 and proceeds go to youth artists.
For viewing hours, contact:
Whitney Center for the Arts, 42 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield MA
http://www.thewhit.org
(413) 443-0289
SEPTEMBER 2018
MON SEPT 17, 6-8 pm
“Talk Saves Lives” and AIRY Parent Info Session at Bushnell-Sage Library, 48 Main St, Sheffield MA. http://www.bushnellsagelibrary.org
Details: Talk Saves Lives is a community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight suicide. Attendees will learn the risk and warning signs of suicide, and how together, we can help prevent it. Find out more at: https://afsp.org/our-work/education/talk-saves-lives-introduction-suicide-prevention/
SUN SEPT 23, 1-7 pm
“Carpe Diem: Commemorating Life through Art & Music” at Adams Agricultural Fairgrounds, Adams MA.
Come out and enjoy a showcase of art, art-making, musicians and bands to raise money and awareness about suicide prevention. Artmaking: Altered Dollheads with AIRY. Music: Hill Haints, Leap The Dips, Pavlov’s Dogs, Immune Friction, Melissa Brinton Performing Musician & Sam Rosen, Forever Autumn, Grace Ida Marks and more. Artists include Katie Haig, the Funky Phoenix, NUarts Gallery & Studios and many more.
$10 Advanced / $15 at the door
$25 AIRY Supporter,$50 AIRY Angel. Get tickets here: https://www.artful.ly/store/events/15844
SAT SEPT 29, 9 am
“Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention” at Monument Mountain High School, Great Barrington MA
For more info, visit: https://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=5611
Arts in Recovery for Youth 