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I always have. Just ask anyone who knows me or has known me throughout my life. When I say, "constructs" I mean more specifically when people see things in black and white. I feel frustrated when it seems like there is no room for learning...I love to learn. I have talked about straddling the construct of clinical art therapy vs. the open studio approach in art therapy in the past. I have found myself facing another construct. This one I think is multi-faceted.

Let's break it down a bit...

Wikipedia says, "A social construction or social construct is any phenomenon "invented" or "constructed" by participants in a particular culture or society, existing because people agree to behave as if it exists or follow certain conventional rules."

I have always been good with structure. I like to know what is expected of me and then move forward from there. I have been able to fulfill the expectations required of me to finish two undergraduate degrees, a masters degree and national registration for the ATCB as an art therapist. Not to mention the requirements to show art nationwide since 1990 and now have art published. I have also been able to remain myself and unique in my identity and vision.

I have lived in Portland for over 16 years. My husband is a musician and so we are involved in both the music community as well as the art community. Over the years I have seen the arts community in Portland transition in so many ways. Portland is a city brimming with creative individuals. Some formally trained, some self-taught...all with so much to share.

I experience feelings of sadness and frustration when I see these amazing people around me, suddenly acting as though others do not have a right to an opinion or method. As I have said before, I would never claim to "own" art or a specific technique...in art therapy as well...I strive to evolve throughout time in my art making, my art teaching and my work with clients in art therapy.

I have watched the Portland art scene evolve in so many fascinating ways. First, to name the districts...I will do my best, but if I leave some one out, my apologies ahead of time...but there is First Thursday (Northwest PDX), Last Thursday (N. Alberta), First Friday (Southeast PDX). There are art walks in SE Foster neighborhood, Multnomah Village, East Moreland, Sellwood and most recently I heard there is one in Beaverton. We also are home to the Portland Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Craft, NW Film Institute, the Art Institute, PNCA and Oregon Collge of Arts & Crafts.

With such a large creative community, I am sad to say for some the reason "for being" or original visions, seems to get lost in the translation. If we'd like to take a moment and remind ourselves that the definition of social constructs included the concept that these rules are "invented or constructed by participants" of the construct. It is my hope that people see their choices in how they interact with each other as their chance to have a choice in how that works out. I continue to reach out and support other artists. We named our studio after a magical story of positive social change. We at the studio see art, being creative and supporting local artists as something that we hope becomes infectious and spreads to all. The arts create new pathways for thinking whether you make it or look at it and think about a piece and it's creation.

I say it to anyone who takes a class or attends a workshop in our studio, "there is no wrong way to do art, as long as you are safe with the materials." There are many opinions regarding finished projects out there in print or on the web, but you have to consider the source of each and every one of those opinions before you decide how personally you want to take it. There are many ways to appreciate art, even if you encounter a piece of art in the world that isn't something you'd want to take home with you...you should take a few extra minutes looking at it. There may be a reason that the piece has created such a strong reaction for you. A reason that might have been intentional by the creator.