Brain
Injury Art > Art Studio
The World of the Art Studio at
Northeast Center for Special Care
The Art Studio at Northeast Center for
Special Care was established in 1999 and is under the direction of artist-in-residence, Susan
Togut. The art studio is an integral part of our Fine
and Performing Arts Program.
Its
concept is to view each Resident-Neighbor as an artist.
The Art Studio is not art therapy - it is an active
artistic community of artists with traumatic brain injury.
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Susan
Togut, a renowned artist, directs the Art Studio at
Northeast Center for Special Care. The Art Studio
opens up a world of creativity for individuals with
traumatic brain injury and neurological impairments. |
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The Art Studio is a large atrium
environment, naturally lit, filled with easels, tables and
high quality, mixed-media, art supplies. This nurturing,
lively space encourages trust in creative journeys through
drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and environment
building.
Many of our Resident-Neighbors with brain injury increase
their physical, cognitive, social and psychological skills
while developing aesthetic competency. As individuals create
art the room comes alive with multiple, diverse expressions
of beauty and integrity. The communal atmosphere positively
affects each neighbor as well as staff, families and
visitors.
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"Pastoral
Memories" by Pat G. |
The Fine Arts Program is a
serious, visual arts program built on the premise that ‘we
are all artists’. As such it nurtures the creative
integrity of our Resident-Neighbors with traumatic brain
injury at all levels of experience and capability.
Cumulative processes encourage the creation of art with an
authentic voice resulting in completed works. These artworks
develop from catastrophic experiences, their inner lives,
their changed realities and their experience in the world.
These works are a testament of their willingness of
individuals with brain injury to explore realms of
creativity while dealing with enormous personal
challenges.
Resolving and expanding their art builds new positive
identities, fortified by self-esteem, risk-taking, patience
and diligence that evolve organically. While the results of
this program may be therapeutic the artmaking is not
initiated from that standpoint.
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"Sunburst Moonglow" by Heidi D.
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Many of our Resident-Neighbor have become accomplished
artists who have had their works displayed in art exhibits
and brain injury conferences all over the country.
Their stories and works have been published in
magazines and in featured articles in publications such as
the New York Times and Spirituality and Health magazine.
From the beginning the Art Studio at Northeast Center for
Special Care is a part of a larger mission of
rehabilitation, recovery and community reentry of
individuals with brain injury – to
recognize the dignity and value of each individual. The art studio
program is therapeutic, but it is not art therapy. It is one of many innovative and alternative
treatment modalities we employ at Northeast Center for
Special Care.
Please take time to visit our Online Art Gallery and view
some of the amazing artworks created by our talented
Resident-Neighbors.
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Changing
Identities: A Story of Traumatic Brain Injury and Art
From
Broken Lives, Amazing Art
Art, a Healer, Draws Out the Artist in the Afflicted
- New York Times Article About the Art Studio
The
Healing Power of Art - Ulster Press Article About the Art
Studio
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