PPCSinc Blogs

Yep.

That’s right.

CollabARTive.

Eight years ago next month we started what was supposed to be a time limited project bringing art into the lives of some of our residents, and the lives of some of our residents into art. At the time, I felt my time spent with the project was a guilty pleasure. It would have been very easy to send the men off with the artist and do something more “productive” with myself.

What I found, as a program manager, was that by participating with the men under the instruction of the visiting artist, we had opened up an avenue of communication that has become essential to the program. In the nuts and bolts of what we do, I, the case manager and the substance abuse counselor, are professional nags. “How is the job search going?” “Have you made your 12-Step meeting quota this week?” “Did you make your bank deposit this week?” These questions define our relationship. They also put up a wall between us. The men have to account for themselves to us and we become… how shall I say…tiresome.

For a couple of hours once a week, we step into other roles. One of a rotating series of artists come in and run workshops on art of various disciplines: writing, photography, drawing, painting and clay sculpting. The process lets us step back from our official roles and provides a forum to relate in a more natural way. It allows us to learn about each other’s issues and concerns in a more relaxed fashion. It allows us to step around the wall. It doesn’t work miracles. It creates more opportunities.

It has also fostered greater support among our clients for one another. They become mentors for one another. Several alums from the last several years drop by from time to time to reconnect with us and contribute to the current class of transitionals. One man from eight years ago is still quite regular with us.

One of the artists we have worked with extensively over the years is Jane Ellen Ibur. Jane is a certified “master teacher” who has spent most of her career teaching in non traditional settings: prisons and jails, nursing homes, community centers and shelters. She is a published poet and well known in local literary circles. And she has done a poetry and literature program on KDHX FM-88.1 for the last umpteen years, “Literature for the Halibut”, (Thursday’s at 8 PM).

Janey has been working with the men on a performance piece based on their writings turned in over the years, that tells something of their stories. The piece is being directed by Con Christeson, who has been the managing artist all these years . There is something of early home life and setting out on the road to homelessness, substance abuse and recovery, life on the “trail” and recovery. And it is hopeful. It is the story of men redeeming themselves.

Next week, some of us will be traveling to the KDHX studios and performing excerpts on Janey’s show. You can listen in at “Literature for the Halibut,” Thursday, August 30th, 7 PM, 88.1 on your FM dial. The following week, we will be performing the whole work at Christ Church Cathedral’s Art & Soul Cafe at 7PM, September 7th.