Studies show that art can be a useful therapeutic tool to cope with emotions. A new interactive series featuring Native artists combines creativity and company to help promote wellness during the pandemic.
About a dozen people from across the state tune into a video chat as Micheal Two Bulls gives instructions.
“I want to invite everybody to grab an object from their house, it could be anything. A salt shaker, an apple.”
He asks everyone to draw the object with whatever medium they have - pencil, pen, crayons and he joins in. After 15 minutes Two Bulls sets down his tools and asks…
“Alright, how’s everyone feeling?”
This prompt is what makes the class unique. It’s not about learning to draw, it’s about bringing people together and doing something fun and relaxing during the pandemic.
Golnesa Asheghali facilitates the class. She reads off some answers from participants.
“Says feeling accomplished, thank you. That was a very chill 15 minutes, thank you sis.”
Asheghali works with Racing Magpie Art Gallery. She also works with South Dakota’s branch of the National Alliance on Mental Health or NAMI. It’s an organization that provides education support to people with mental illness. Both organizations are teaming up for the virtual wellness workshops.
“Creating whether it’s writing or drawing or painting is an opportunity to tap into one’s self. And to be able to do that safely because you have control. You have your foot on the gas and the break. And you can decide how deep you want to go, when you need to pull back, how you want to engage especially if workshops are being facilitated safely and consciously.”
Asheghali says using art and creativity can be beneficial in conversations about wellness and mental health. She says organizers of their workshops are intentional about creating a welcoming virtual space.
“Hopefully it will rollover into a post-pandemic world and we can keep it moving and share space physically with one another. And virtually, maybe a combination of the two.”
The wellness workshops are open to the public. Two more are scheduled through May and links to the zoom meetings are posted on Racing Magpie’s Facebook page.