Month: July 2023

Kim Spaulding

Posted on by Jenna Benn Shersher

Name: Kim Spaulding

Title / credentials: MA ATR, Twistshop Facilitator, Art Therapist

Location: Media, PA

Education: BA Interior Design/Film Production, Jefferson University,

       MA Art Therapy, Marywood University

 

Brief art therapy/ artist bio & personal connection to Twist:

Kim is a master’s level, registered art therapist (MA-ATR) and will be sitting for her board exam this Fall. She has been an art therapist for over ten years in a multitude of settings. Kim passionately believes in the healing potential of art therapy and the sacredness of shared creative space. 

 

As an art therapy student, Kim personally experienced the transformative nature of the creative process while caring for a close family during her journey with endometrial cancer. Kim is new to Twist Out Cancer and is honored to begin guiding participants through their own journeys. She will begin facilitating Twistshops this Fall.

 

What is your favorite art materials/ art technique to share with a group?

I love Pouring Paint! When a pouring product is added to acrylic paint, it becomes fluid and shiny AND the most untamed creature in the world of the art! The secret is to let go of fear and expectations because anything you create will be beautiful!  

 

What is your “Twist” on creative arts therapy?

Kim’s goal as an art therapist is to provide a safe space for participants to connect and explore: with the art materials, with themselves, and with one another. 

Jacqueline Carmody

Posted on by Jenna Benn Shersher

Name: Jacqueline Carmody

Title / credentials: LCPC, ATR-BC, ATCS, Twistshop Director, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Art Therapist

Location: Chicago, IL

Education: BFA Painting, Western Michigan University,

       MAT,  Adler University

 

Brief art therapy/ artist bio & personal connection to Twist:

Jacqueline is an illustrator, painter, and art therapist. Jacqueline is currently a board certified registered art therapist (ATR-BC), a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), and an Art Therapy Certified Supervisor (ATCS). Jacqueline provides a safe space to unleash your creative potential and encourages art making as an effective way to discover solutions to life’s ups and downs.

Twist Out Cancer is a NPO that Jacqueline has been deeply passionate about and involved with since 2013. Jacqueline was drawn to the organization due to her own history of cancer impacting her loved ones throughout her life. Jacqueline is a Brushes With Cancer artist, serves on the advisory board, and is the director and creator of Twist Out Cancer’s signature Twistshop program. She is enthusiastic about bringing this unique program to the cancer community– across the U.S and internationally. Her goal as an art therapist is to offer guidance in exploring different emotions that develop throughout a cancer experience. What typically transpires in a Twistshop is art making, bonding, and camaraderie.

 

What is your favorite art materials/ art technique to share with a group?

Tempera Paint sticks! If you have ever sat down for an art-therapy session with me, you know these are my favorites! They are extremely satisfying in texture and color. They move smoothly on the paper and are comparable to what it would feel like to paint with lipstick. I love this art material for any age and artistic level.

 

What is your “Twist” on creative arts therapy?

Jacqueline’s goal as an art therapist is to offer guidance in exploring different emotions that develop throughout a cancer experience. Jacqueline provides an open and safe space to unleash your creative potential. She encourages you to try something new and learn how art making can be a container to hold past experiences that have been difficult to describe through words.

 

Lindsey Taucher

Posted on by Jenna Benn Shersher

Name: Lindsey Taucher

Title / credentials: LPC, Twistshop Artist, Licensed Professional Counselor; formerly Registered & Board Certified Art Therapist

Location: Austin, TX

Education: BA Psychology, St. Edward’s University,

       MA Art Therapy,  The George Washington University

 

Brief art therapy/ artist bio & personal connection to Twist:

Lindsey is a painter, counselor, and higher education professional. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Texas [LPC], with a previous designation as a nationally board certified registered art therapist. Lindsey relishes in joining makers in creating artwork that allows them to tap into their strengths, supports, and safe expression of emotion. She has worked since the late 1990s in both mental health and higher education. Her volunteer activities have focused on equity, wellness, education, and access to services for the young and elderly. Lindsey enjoys reading, training for sprint triathlons, movies, live music, and time with her family and friends. She joined Twist Out Cancer as an artist for Brushes with Cancer in 2021 due to her passion for art and its ability to heal.

 

Twist Out Cancer is a NPO that Lindsey has been excited to be a part of since 2021, first as an artist with the Brushes with Cancer program and then as a facilitator of Twist Workshops. She was pulled to be a part of the organization after her own experience with cancer as a caregiver to her mother’s fight against lung cancer. Lindsey is honored to be a part of providing creative experiences to the cancer community across the globe. Her hope as an art facilitator is to provide a safe place to reinforce strengths, identify supports, and experience emotional expression in a safe way. Twistshops provide these opportunities in a community building and connecting way.

 

What is your favorite art materials/ art technique to share with a group?

Collage is a wonderful way for folks to hunt and gather for their perfect finds of images and words, sometimes in an unexpected way. The combination of word and image can help create sense out of confusion. Collage can be used in a simple to complicated approach, making it great for all ages of creators.

 

What is your “Twist” on creative arts therapy?

Lindsey’s approach is to provide a buffet of options to look at strengths, supports, and safe connection to feelings. She enjoys a conversational approach during sessions allowing makers to ask questions and run ideas by one another to feel as comfortable as possible as they jump into creating something that was not there before.

Mignon Dupepe

Posted on by Jenna Benn Shersher

Name: Mignon Dupepe

Title/credentials: LCPC, ATR, Twistshop Facilitator, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Art Therapist

Location: Chicago, IL area

Education: BS Psychology/Education, Vanderbilt University

      MAT, Adler University

 

Brief art therapy/artist bio & personal connection to Twist:

Mignon is an art explorer an art therapist. Mignon is currently a registered art therapist(ATR), and a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC). Mignon believes that the creative process permits clarifying moments to perceive possibility, potential, and wonder and allows us to connect deeply with others.

 

Mignon’s passion for using art and the creative process to connect has contributed to her involvement over the years in many art collaborations and installations for community and not for profit groups. An art collaboration with another local cancer support group initiated her to the Twist Out Cancer community. Since that introduction in 2018, Mignon has served as an artist for Brushes with Cancer in 2019, 2021, and 2023, a mentor for Brushes with Cancer in 2022, a facilitator for the inaugural Twist Hearts program in 2022, a regular Twistshop facilitator, and an associate board member. Mignon is inspired daily by the Twist Out Cancer community and the powerful stories shared through creative expression. Though Mignon’s mother, Betty, a talented seamstress and crafter, passed away from ovarian cancer many years ago, Mignon is able to feel connected with her and honor her creative spirit whenever she creates and makes art with others.

 

What is your favorite art material/art technique to share with the group?

Gouache paints and watercolor crayons are my favorite materials to share with others. I like the rich colors and exploratory ease that these materials offer. I love to use gouache painted papers to design collage canvases too!

 

What is your “Twist” on creative arts therapy?

Mignon’s goal as an art therapist is to use the creative process to connect and promote insight and become an active agent in developing positive and purposeful ideas towards wellness and best health. She finds joy in sharing the discovery and sense of awe moments that creative arts therapy allows. 

 

Select Art Pieces from Wayne State University’s Brushes with Cancer Program Will Be on Display at Henry Ford Cancer in Detroit

Posted on by Jenna Benn Shersher

June 28, 2023, Detroit –Twist Out Cancer, an international non-profit charitable organization that provides psychosocial support to individuals touched by cancer through creative arts programming, announced that select art pieces from its recent licensed Brushes With Cancer program at Wayne State University (WSU) are now on display in the Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion at Henry Ford Cancer, 2800 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit. The Brushes With Cancer program at WSU featured 17 Artists from its Art, Art History, Art Education, and Art Therapy departments, who were matched with anyone touched by cancer – previvors, survivors, and caregivers – from around the country. After getting to know each other, each artist created a unique piece of artwork that represented their Inspiration’s personal journey with cancer. There was an opening night reception, followed by a month-long exhibition at Wayne State’s Art Department Gallery. All of the art pieces created for the Wayne State University’s Brushes With Cancer program are available to view here. “The licensed Brushes with Cancer program at Wayne State University was a beautiful way to continue our programming in the Detroit area. It was a heartwarming experience to see the student artists connect with their Inspirations and show them how they interpreted their personal journey with cancer through a unique piece of artwork,” said August Spree, Director of Programs for Twist Out Cancer. “We are grateful to Henry Ford Cancer for providing an opportunity for people to see some of these art pieces and learn how our Brushes With Cancer program provides a moment of healing to those that are part of our program.” The following 11 art pieces will be on view at the Henry Ford Cancer. Next to each will be statements by the Inspiration and Artist along with a QR Code to purchase it.

● Kindling

● A Different Place

● Beauty in Lime

● Endurance

● Tammy

● From Cancer, She Grew

● Together

● Future Memories

● Hour by Hour – Sonya in 4 Acts

● To Scale Through the Rampage with a Lifesaver

● Paradise is a State of Mind

 

The Brushes with Cancer program is a unique celebration that pairs accomplished Artists with Inspirations, who have been touched by cancer as previvors, survivors, or caregivers. As the Inspirations share their twist on cancer – stories, feelings, and experiences – the artists create a unique work of art that represents their personal journey with cancer. The unique artwork from recent Brushes With Cancer programs can be seen here, Art from WSU’s Brushes With Cancer Program Will be on Display at Henry Ford Cancer.  In 2023, there are two other Brushes With Cancer programs already in progress. This includes a licensed program with the Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation and the Brushes With Cancer program in the Midwest Region, which features 36 Inspirations and 36 Artists from 14 states and six countries. If you would like to bring Brushes with Cancer to your region or city, or if you have any questions on corporate partnerships and licensed programs, please send an email to brushes@twistoutcancer.org.

 

About Twist Out Cancer Established in 2011 as a non-profit organization, Twist Out Cancer offers the platform, tools and community – both online and offline – for anyone touched by cancer to feel connected to a community, and for many to take action. Twist Out Cancer was founded on the principle that when you share, the world opens up. Since its inception, the organization has touched over 240,000 people around the world through its programs and events. A labor of love, Twist Out Cancer is a volunteer-led organization boasting a network of over 200 active volunteers serving as ambassadors in Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Ann Arbor, Austin, Tel Aviv, Toronto, and Montreal. More information is available at www.twistoutcancer.org.

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For media inquiries about Twist Out Cancer, please contact: Joshua Taustein, josh@twistoutcancer.org, (847)308-5168.