May Art-Health Framework: New Tools for Understanding Creative Wellness
Resources for healthy creativity conversations
I explore the ways art and health intersect using my unique 6-part framework.
If you are interested in understanding this in your own life: Order a Creative Health Assessment or Book a 1:1 Coaching Call.
May was one of those months for me where sometimes the days felt super long but the month itself disappeared. We have a lot going on here personally that just requires annoying tasks like figuring out how to get into old email accounts, setting up a bunch of government services for parents, moving ancient papers from storage sheds to our garage. And, naturally, the first day that we felt like we had a break from it all, we immediately got sick with head colds (definitely exacerbated by the dust of that storage shed!)
But, it’s all coming together, things are settling down, we’re getting it figured out. And some lovely things also happened in May. I started some new work writing for a therapist that I’m enjoying connecting with. I’m developing more material for my Craft to Heal series and for offering more of my 1:1 Healthy Creativity Sessions. I had a really lovely afternoon walk up a hill here that has a terrific view. I ate some good Ramen on a cold day. I snuggled a lot with my dogs who have been on mostly really good behavior. And I ran three In My Fluffy Pajamas workshops with my artistic collaborator.
Life is lifing, as it does. And I got the chance to share a lot with you here, so I wanted to do my end of month roundup today. (By the way, you can always find these in the Monthly Recaps link.)
News and Thoughts
I am excited to share that a favorite crochet art piece of mine was accepted to an exhibit up in Sebastopol in June. I have no idea exactly how I’m going to take the time to get it up there but I’m also excited about carving out that special time.
I also shared this about my crochet:
I wrote this piece that is honest and challenging about the changes in my writing career over time:
And I offered new information about my framework for understanding where art meets health and the work I do with others around this:
Where Art and Health Meet
This month I tried to share more insight and also practical tips about how art and health intersect, drawing from the framework I’ve developed and some of the work I’ve been seeing in my 1:1 Healthy Creativity Conversations.
Other People’s Amazingness
I am super excited about the opportunities this month that I had to share other people’s amazing words and images, starting with the recent two-part interview with painter Cierra Gabrielle Sydnor, which began with a set of moving visual responses and then continued with insightful words.
I also cross-posted some terrific pieces from other writers:
About this piece from Maura Brannigan I shared: “I love this piece. Sharing it because it reflects how personal style (like any creative choice) can be shaped by the emotional and psychological impact of living through instability, something I often explore in the context of how health and life challenges influence artistic expression. Such great writing from Maura!”
And I shared about this: “The way Catriona Knapman describes learning to see and appreciate her area more through a photography exchange makes me think of how learning to see color in crochet helped me see color and life around me after depression.”
And I loved the opportunity to say that Madelleine Müller (she/her) shares so authentically about the challenges that health has placed on how and what she creates ... and also the ways in which she manages to create anyway, while acknowledging some of the privilege that allows for that. Please read and be inspired. Plus the music!!”
This piece by Alex Smoke expanded on some of the things I've been thinking about since reading:
Delighting in Dogs
Almost every picture on my camera roll in May was of these two:
Over on Notes:
I’ve been trying to share more exercises and insights over on Notes:
I want to say a huge thanks to people over on Notes who have offered poignant replies and beautiful words in their restacks of my work including: marn wong, Demetri Dourambeis, Jo Morris, Gayle Beavil 🇨🇦, Tamsin, Kaitlin Senter, Janelle Hardacre, Monique Mulligan, Kiran Blackwell, Pamela Leavey, Story Carrier, River Jack 🪐, and Kim O'Hara.
And especially this form Cate Gander:
Thank you for being here. Thank you for connecting with any of my words. May June be whatever you need for it to be!
If you enjoy this writing, know that it takes a lot of work, and support it if you can:
Tnanks for sharing my note, Kathryn.
♥️♥️♥️