Collaged Together with Paste, Color and Glitter

A long, long time ago, before Bill Clinton had even been elected President, I lived and worked in Arkansas. My work in those days was creating, training, and supporting congregation-based CareTeams for people with AIDS and developing an agency to support those teams. In those days, (late 80’s and early 90’s) most people with AIDS died. And it soon became obvious that they lived longer and better if they had the acceptance, friendship, and unconditional love of a CareTeam. CareTeam volunteers from a wide variety of faith communities offered an early version of what is now called “palliative care”: they helped men, and women, and children, get to doctor appointments, talk to their family members, and accomplish some of their goals. Mostly, they listened to people who were dying, and grieved their passing.

It was good work and I was deeply moved by it even though it was often hard, and sad. One of my personal resources in those days was a group designed and carried out by my friend, Patsy, who was an artist. She initiated a bi-weekly group for CarePartners who were artistically talented or who enjoyed the creative process—and many of them did. I felt blessed that she allowed me to participate—the only person in the group without AIDS.

We met at the Arkansas Arts Center in downtown Little Rock.  Every session began with Patsy teaching us a new medium: watercolor, sketching, pottery, collage, pastels, oils, mosaics, mandalas and more. After the demonstration, she would light incense and a candle to mark our creative space as holy and she would read a poem or meditation. Then we were asked to interpret the theme of the reading using the medium of the day. We felt free to experiment, to play, to laugh at ourselves and each other. There was no judgment or comparison. She encouraged us to respect and celebrate our own work and that of each other. 

That group began with twelve men. Occasionally someone new was added. Little by little the group began to dwindle.  Some died. Some moved away to live or die with family. One went blind from the medications. Others became too ill to participate.  After two years the group ended. By that time the CareTeam program was hosting two four-day Heartsong retreats each year for people with AIDS from all over Arkansas:  the Retreats included many opportunities for creativity just like the Art Group. But I vowed I would never forget the members of the first group and all that we shared.

Many years later, 2007 in Seattle, I was still remembering those friends in Arkansas and also missing the opportunity to connect with people through the creative process. I knew there were CarePartners and housing residents who had artistic talents, I knew I had more time having passed the leadership of the CareTeam Program to Bertram, and we finally had an office with space for such a gathering. Thus, the Multifaith Art and Community Group was born. We met every other Thursday morning for two hours of creativity and conversation followed by pizza and salad. Program clients were joined by some special volunteers.

I was not an artist like my friend Patsy, but I did know how to create a holy space and I followed her example. All who attended were willing to explore and share with one another. We began with “name” posters and multifaith banners for the Pride Parade. Over the past four years, we have created dream catchers, prayer flags, candle holders, hand-painted T shirts, jewelry, hand-made books, and even a colorful Multifaith bus shelter at the corner of 15th and John. Our meeting time migrated to afternoons; our name evolved into Artworks from the Heart.

Conversations about movies or politics, stories of troubles and triumphs past and present, laughter, silence—all collaged together with paste, color and glitter. And now for this year’s Picnic: bird/spirit houses, mosaics and journals.  In 2009 we sold our creations at the annual Volunteer Picnic, using the proceeds to visit the Quilt Museum in LaConner; in 2010 our income allowed us to enjoy a special day at  the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. Last winter we went to the Picasso Exhibit at the SAM together. This year we hope to visit the Seattle Zoo.

In  Art group we discover the inner artist in each of us, and we experience a connection that supports us in times of sicknesses, hospitalizations, housing crises, and economic hardship. In the last two years, two beloved regular members died suddenly; we remember them often.

Facilitating this group gives me a particular way to remember and honor the courageous men and women I knew in the early days of AIDS in Arkansas, and a way to celebrate the progress being made by people with AIDS and their caregivers today. I am grateful to Rosehedge/Multifaith Works and especially to all those who attend and create Artworks from the Heart today. 




Trudy James
Owner/Consultant Heartwork
www.trudyjamesheartwork.com
Former CareTeam Program Director