Art on the Brain is an in-person and simultaneous virtual program that brings members of the brain injury community together with Portland State University students to do art and support one another in self-exploration and discovery. It is a creative and caring space for artists to create and learn about themselves and others through the process of art making.
What we believe
We believe all human beings are artists and inherently creative.
We believe there is no right or wrong way to do art.
We believe that making art is an act of courage.
What kind of art will we be doing?
Participants will have the opportunity to explore different media for visual self-expression, including but not limited to drawing, painting, and collage. Art invitations are provided at each session for participants if needed; however, Art on the Brain encourages and trusts participants to follow their creative urges whether on their own or in collaboration with other participants.
Upcoming Dates:
Fall 2024 Registration Open until October 20, 2024
To Register please click here
Fall Dates: Thursdays, October 24, 2024 through December 5, 2024
Winter Dates: Thursdays, January 30, 2025 through March 6, 2025
Spring Dates: Thursdays April 24, 2025 through May 29, 2025
Please Note:
Cancellation is rare and usually only for transportation safety or holidays. Please watch your email the day before and day-of in the unlikely event of cancellation.
Contact:
Fern
info@bic-nw.org
503-208-4533 (general BIC-NW line)
Or
Deb with PSU
d.burke@pdx.edu
Why attend Art on the Brain?
Art on the Brain meets to reduce the social isolation brain injury survivors sometimes experience and support the formation of friendships and community.
There are myriad reasons to gather and make art in community with each other:
- Art making is fun.
- Art making can support us in feeling more connected to ourselves and the world around us.
- Art making can help us make sense of emotions and clear our minds.
- Art making can help us transform difficult emotions and build hope.
- Art making can be cathartic.
- Art making can calm us and help us feel more relaxed.
- Art making can help us make connections between unrelated things and find new ways to communicate.
- Art making engages our imaginations and supports us with working through challenges
- Art making (e.g., coloring a mandala or doodling) can increase blood flow to the brain’s reward center – the medial prefrontal cortex.
- Art making can give us a mood boost.
- Art making can lower our stress and anxiety.
Art making can bring us into a “flow” state of simultaneous relaxation and focused attention.
Who should come?
- Anyone with an ABI
- Family
- Friends
- Caregivers/Support persons
- Portland State University Students enrolled in the Art on the Brain capstone
All participants are required to register before the session starts.
What to bring?
- Yourself and a registered support person if needed (This is an in-person event)
- Registered Friend, guest, or family member
- All art supplies are provided
Please note: We will be using a variety of mediums for creating the art. If you are a particularly physically expressive person, consider wearing clothing that you do not mind getting paint or charcoal on.
Do I need to register?
Yes! Registration is limited. If you are a survivor or caretaker please click here to register
What:
Roughly a 2 hour visual self-expression art meeting with community building alongside PSU students. This is both in person and virtually via zoom simultaneously. In person members will have access to snacks. All art supplies are provided.
Where:
Location details given to registered participants only.
When:
Thursdays for 6 weeks per session. Exact time details given to registered participants only.
Accessibility:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Seating available
- Virtual option available
Public transit
The meeting location is accessible via bus with roughly a tenth-of-a mile walk off bus lines 15, 20, and 63.
For a longer roughly quarter-mile walk you can use bus lines 18, 24, 26, 287, 288, 292.
Light Rail MAX blue and red lines also will bring you nearby.
Parking
Free street parking available nearby with a short walk. Some uphill/downhill walking may be required depending on where you find a spot.