Creatively Contributing
1. So speaking of how to make World Diabetes Day ’09 super fabulous, I want to give a shout-out about the Making Sense of Diabetes campaign. Manny from Diabetes Hands Foundation gives the information here:
This is a really cool opportunity to stretch your creative muscle, regardless of whether or not you fancy yourself a filmmaker. Even if you don’t think you’re creative, I think you’re more creative than you give yourself credit, so I encourage you to give this a go. If you make a video, you’ll have the satisfaction and benefit of visual self-expression about which I’m perpetually yammering – for good reason though! You can watch some of the submissions if you need ideas or inspiration or just want to see the amazing level or creative genius overflowing from the DOC.
2. A request from me. I think diabetes trash has enormous potential to be far more than something discarded into the garbage. From an art therapy perspective, turning diabetes trash into beautiful and meaningful art objects, can symbolize the change we all need to make within ourselves from perceiving diabetes as nothing but a burden, the figurative garbage in our lives, to something positive, meaningful and even worth displaying. If you had a chance to have a look at the brochure I’ll be passing out to doctors’ offices about the art therapy groups for D kids I’m starting, you likely noticed that I plan to have kids in my groups recycle their diabetes trash for that very purpose, and as an artist who personally favors more sculptural work, and who also adores children’s art, I can’t wait to see the marvelous creations that will be generated.
Last week, I met with my art therapy supervisor. I showed her the brochure, and talked about how I was trying to make the group happen. At some point, we started talking about the annual conference for the Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association, which is the local chapter of the American Art Therapy Association, which led to a discussion about the keynote speaker, which led to a discussion about the break-out sessions, which led to a discussion about how they had extended the deadline for presentation proposals because I guess they hadn’t gotten enough or hadn’t gotten ones they liked. She started talking about how I should present, and of course, I gave her that look of doubt which I guess you have to see, but since I don’t feel like taking a picture of it, you’ll just have to imagine it. I told her I’d never really done a presentation like that, and didn’t really know what I’d even present. She was super enthusiastic about it though, and more or less convinced me to put something together.
She thought I should include an experiential component, having participants create sculptures similar to what I want to do with kids. I like this idea for several reasons. Primarily because I think the actual experience of working with the materials will give the attendees a more visceral sense of the groups’ purpose. From a practical standpoint, that’s less time I have to stand at a podium and talk which is less time for me to sound like a stuttering idiot. Win-win.
The logistical issue is that I need a crapload of diabetes trash, and while I generate my share of it, I’m not sure that I’ll have enough for 20 or 30 people to create masterpieces by the time the conference rolls around in January. So, this is the part where I ask you for donations. It’s an odd request, and I’m not sure how many of you can or want to help, but if anyone feels inclined to save their trash and send it to me, I’d appreciate it. If you’re interested, and want more information about what I want and where to send it, please leave a comment or send me an email.
Great! sure thing…I’ll send my trash! what kind? those pink cups from infusion sets? empty strip canisters?
Comment by jaimie — October 8, 2009 @ 3:49 pm
Ohh!! Yes, stuff like that! Pretty much no sharps, nothing that has blood on it, and nothing that’s been inserted under the skin. Also, anything with a prescription label should have the label removed, or the identifying info blacked out with marker or something.
I’m saving all the boxes (test strips, infusion sets, cartridges, insulin), insulin & strip bottles, all the wrappers from infusion sets and cartridges, alcohol swab wrappers, used cartridges and tubing, the paper backs to infusion sets, cartridge plungers, even the paper information inserts. Syringe barrels don’t work because of the needle, but the plungers and caps would. I’ve also started cutting out the nutrition labels of food packaging.
Thanks, Jaimie!!
Comment by Lee Ann — October 8, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
I’d be more than happy to send you my diabetes trash. Wow, there’s a sentence I never imagined saying!! LOL I’ll start putting it all in an envelope or box and send it out when it’s full. Do you have a dead-line, or just “before January”??
Comment by Karen — October 9, 2009 @ 8:47 am
Count me in! I’ve already started a “Lee Ann” bag with my trash.
Comment by Amalas — October 9, 2009 @ 10:13 am
So glad to have a totally productive use for that! When do you need it by? I will save up for you
Comment by Katie — October 9, 2009 @ 11:48 am
I will be glad to send you some D trash…where do I get the address to send it? I will also pass this on to my D friends!
Comment by Linds — October 9, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
Let me know what & where!
Comment by Scott K. Johnson — October 25, 2009 @ 8:55 pm