A new artist's loft opened at NISA (Northern Initiative for Social Action) on March 6, offering an opportunity for members to express themselves through art in a way that is accessible for all.
Open since 1998, and housed at 36 Elgin St., NISA is run by and for people with lived experience of mental health challenges/illness and consumers of mental health services. The project is the brainchild of NISA peer support worker, Jenna Barnes.
Barnes said art has been a passion of hers since high school and something she has relied upon through her own mental health struggles, though she never imagined it would be her job. In fact, she told Sudbury.com she didn’t quite want it to be, “because it was my safe place and my coping mechanism.”
But she said working at NISA is the perfect blend. “Here (NISA) is the perfect place, because I'm able to still do that, but not lose the coping mechanism aspect of it.”
She said she is fascinated with the psychology of art, and wanted to bring creativity to others at NISA.
“Learning what different colours meant, how to manipulate the composition to evoke a certain feeling of the viewer, was really powerful for me, especially sometimes I have a difficult time talking or expressing myself,” said Barnes. “Art is this whole other language, because I have to translate things into words and thoughts into colors and shapes, and that is scientifically proven to be really good for creative problem solving.”
She told Sudbury.com she’s been able to express herself through art “in a way that I don't think I ever would be able to with words,” and she hopes to bring that ability to others.
In addition to a gallery of paintings from the late Ray Laporte, a founding member of NISA, the Artists Loft, there is a large space with every art supply you could need.
Not only that, but the art projects are designed to be attempted by even the most novice artist. If you can manage finger painting, you can have a great time.
“I grab people's favorite songs that they listen to when they're really sad or when they're really angry or when they're really happy; we'll put those songs on, and we'll try to paint to the movement of the music, which I find is very therapeutic,” said Barnes.
“I'm trying to find ways for members to get involved in art when they have never touched art before. Trying to take away the need for perfection and control, and looking at a blank canvas and being intimidated by that and intimidated by other people's works and those comparisons, we're really trying to make it more fun and a learning kind of experience.”
That accessibility is important to members, said NISA’s executive director, Marty Boucher.
“Our motto is ‘Being, Belonging and Becoming’, so it's a place where people can come and be who they are, belong with a community of peers, and really work on their recovery and become the people they want to be, and art can play a role in that,” he said. “It's just one facet of the programming that we give, but it's one that our membership has really been wanting us to reinvest in.”
Boucher said in his speech to attendees at the launch that art isn't just about beauty.
“Creative expression helps us understand our own experience, and share our experience with others. It helps us feel connected to a community of people that are also using art to express themselves.”
You can find more information about NISA and the Artist's Loft on their website, found here.