By Chris Howard-Williams
“The medical profession has come a long way in recognizing the healing benefits of art. My hope is that someday the arts will be considered as significant in everyone’s lives as breathing fresh air, eating clean foods, and performing physical exercise.” -Renée Phillips
Of all the many services and programs the Women’s Center provides, perhaps their Healing Arts programs are some of my favorite so far! Believing that emotional and psychological well-being can be managed through creativity and self-expression, the Healing Arts workshops are offered as tools for “building and maintaining a healthy campus environment.” Whether it’s watching your stress shrink like a shrinky-dink or brushing away the pain with watercolors, these unique programs offer students a creative and unique opportunity to consider their own mental and emotional health.
One of my jobs this academic year is to manage the Women’s Center Healing Arts Corners across campus. These corners can be found in five different locations across campus:
- Here in the Women’s Center lounge in Haag Hall, room 105
- The International Student Affairs Office on the ground floor of the Atterbury Student Success Center, room G-06
- The Writing Studio on the 2nd floor of the Atterbury Student Success Center
- The Rainbow Lounge in the Student Union, room 325
- The Student Health and Wellness Office waiting room in the Brookside 51 building, suite 237
I really encourage you to seek out one of these corners and follow along with the self-guided activity that is posted there! You’ll get to choose one of the colorful rocks, handmade by one of the Women’s Center Staff out of Sculpey clay, and take a moment to consider what it is that drives you. Then, using one of the provided Sharpie markers, write a word or phrase that is inspiring or motivating to you personally before taking the rock with you. It is our hope that you are able to view that rock as a “stepping stone” to your goals this semester and beyond, using it to remind you of the hope and the drive that brought you to this place in your life (and at UMKC). Don’t forget to answer the short questionnaire while you’re there as well!
For more information about the Healing Arts programs at the Women’s Center, visit their website or stop by the Women’s Center in Haag Hall room 105 to pick up an event calendar.