Unmasking Brain Injury: Exploring Emotions Through Art

Transcription

1 mm-dd-yy v# Unmasking Brain Injury: Exploring Emotions Through Art Jessica Petrongolo, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS Speech Therapist Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital June 26, 2017

2 2 Introduction How did Unmasking Brain Injury come to be?

3 3 Introduction Unmasking Brain Injury is a project that provides brain injury survivors the opportunity to make masks as a means of exploring their emotions through art and sharing with others what they may struggle to put into words. Started at Hinds Feet Farm in NC, which provides community based programs for persons living with brain injury.

4 SECTION TITLE OR HEADER 4 Mission The mission of Unmasking Brain Injury: Promote awareness of the prevalence of brain injury. Give survivors a voice and the means to educate others on what it s like to live with a brain injury. Show others that persons living with a disability due to their brain injury are like anyone else, deserving of dignity, respect, compassion and the opportunity to prove their value as citizens in their respective communities.

5 5 Progress Unmasking Brain Injury project: 633 Masks on website 17 US States 2 Countries (US, Canada)

6 6 Inspiration How did Unmasking Brain Injury come to be?

7 7 Inspiration for Unmasking Brain Injury Cover article of the February 2015 edition of National Geographic entitled, Healing Our Soldiers: Unlocking the Secrets of Traumatic Brain Injury by Caroline Alexander, Photographs by Lynn Johnson

8 8 Healing Our Soldiers The article focuses on veterans who have survived brain injuries caused by blast events. Brain injuries caused by blast events change soldiers in ways many can t articulate. Some use art therapy, creating painted masks to express how they feel. Guided by art therapist Melissa Walker at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), which is part of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland.

9 9 Healing Our Soldiers Sometimes you find yourself saying, I wish... I would have lost a body part, so people will see so they ll get it. Army First Sgt. David Griego Iraq 2008, Afghanistan 2012 Photographed with his wife, Tracy

10 10 Healing Our Soldiers What do you see? What do you think the mask s creator was trying to express?

11 11 Healing Our Soliders What do you see? What do you think the mask s creator was trying to express?

12 12 Creating a Mask How do I create my own mask?

13 13 The Process of Creating a Mask Step 1: Reflect on values and feelings. Read provided list of values/feelings. (included at end of slides) Ask yourself: What values are important to me? What feelings do I have related to my brain injury that I want to depict in my mask?

14 14 The Process of Making a Mask Step 2: Find meaningful words and images. Magazines Drawing Stickers Images or quotes on the internet

15 15 The Process of Making a Mask Step 3: Select colors. What colors represent your feelings related to your brain injury? Choose materials to incorporate colors, such as paint, tissue paper and fabric.

16 16 The Process of Making a Mask Step 4: Plan it out. Lay out your design, including pictures and words, where you would like them placed on the mask. Step 5: Create your masterpiece! Make sure to take time when you are finished to admire your work and be proud of your accomplishment

17 17 Next Steps How do I get involved?

18 18 How can I get involved? Visit where you can: Request a mask making kit View the masks in the collection Donate to the organization Feel free to me with questions: petrongoloj@mlhs.org

19 Emotions/Feelings Adored Irresistable Wise Energetic Frisky Alive Joyful Wonderful Expectant Fun Amazing Joyous Worthy Fascinated Glorious Appreciated Jubliant Zestful Grief Glowing Appreciative Kind Adequate Irritated Graceful Awesome Light Capable interested Gracious Blissful Lovable Afraid Love Greatful Bold Loving Determined Pleasant Happy Brilliant Luxurious Dizzy Confused Harmonious Calm Magical Elation Sympathy Hopeful Cheerful Magnificent Glad Thrilled Inspired Cherished Marvelous Guilty Fearful Invigorated Clear Miraculous Hatred Frightend Free Comfortable Noble Lucky Hopeless Excellent Confident Open Pleasure Isolated Great Content Optimistic Pissed Overwhelmed Horrified Courageous Opulent Grouchy Pain Helpless Creative Passionate Stable Cheated Lust Decisive Peaceful Different Hurt Annoyed Delicious Playful Awe Lonely Frustrated Delightful Positive Certain Worried Surprised Divine Powerful Compassion Brave Superior Dynamic Precious Delighted Exhausted Able Eager Proud Embarrassed Helpful Ashamed Easy Quiet Empathy Safe Anger Empowered Radiant Good Wanted Whole Energized Ready Glamorous Tender Challenged Enlightened Receptive Humorous Terrific Enthusiastic Refreshed Nervous Thrilled Excited Relaxed Playfulness Tranquil Exhilarated Relieved Pride Trusting Expanded Renewed Tired Unlimited Exquisite Resilient Sublime Uplifted Extraordinary Satisfied Distracted Valuable Exuberant Sensational Assured Vibrant Fabulous Serene Charmed Vivacious Flowing Spectacular Angst Warm Focused Strong Dread Welcomed 19