On the floor of Siegfried Hall, six monk-artists from the Drepung Gomang
Monastery were kneeled on pillows and working on a "Medicine Buddha
Mandala for Healing," a painting made from sand and soulfulness.
"Teach me, teach me," exclaimed Harry, an artist from Passion
Works. A few minutes later, Tenzin, a bi-lingual resident artist of Drepung,
translated an invitation from the Monks for Harry and David to participate
in the craft of sand art. "See what happens, Harry, when you ask
to learn something -- magic," exclaimed Patty Mitchell, Art
Director of Passion Works. Patty along with Carol and Cressie (staff of
ATCO) quickly set up a table accessible by Harry and David Dewey in their
wheelchairs.  Tenzin brought over materials needed for sand art including
rubber mats, colored sand, and chakpurs of various sizes. Chakpurs are
metal tools cylindrical in shape, hollow and ridged. Tenzin put sand inside
Chakpurs for both Harry and David, and patiently helped each artist figure
out how to hold and use the instruments.  "Would you like a pillow
for under your arm?" "Is that comfortable?" "What
would you like to draw next?" prompted Tenzin as David wrote his
name with artistic flair and Harry declared that he wanted to create a
portrait of Tenzin. "That's ambitious, Harry, but ok,"
exclaimed Tenzin. Fifteen minutes later, in the midst of rhythmic motions
of Chakpur rubbing against Chakpur, Tenzin declared "Harry and David,
you are naturals. You are sand painters!" "Awesome!"
added Patty. In the spirit of creating and blessing community, the monks
presented the Passion Works artists and staff with sacred silk scarves.
Likewise, on behalf of Passion Works, Harry presented the monks with Yak
silver lapel pins, chosen because of the sacredness of Yaks--peaceful
animals often found surrounded by water and grass in the Monks'
artwork. The gift-giving ceremony cemented the memories of the artistic
collaborations that had taken place over the past seven days--and
symbolized a hopeful vision of how to cultivate connections between self
and other.
Passion Works inspires and liberates the human spirit through collaborative
art. The artists of Drepung and Passion Works reside in different cultures
and speak different languages, practice spirituality in diverse ways,
usually are separated across time and space, and yet are united with one
another by aesthetic impulses. Herein rests the power of collaborative
art: cultivating connections between self and other, acknowledging and
honoring similarity and difference, fostering creativity and imagination.
 Collaboration is at once a philosophy and set of practices that takes
many forms and serves many functions. First and foremost, collaboration
represents a way of living and being with others. Through collaboration,
individuals are physically and cognitively involved in cooperatively exploring
the unique talents of self and other. A spirit of reciprocity and generosity
characterizes the culture of the studio. Second, participants engage in
a dance of structure and surrender as staff orchestrate an environment
in which participants engage in improvisation and let chaos work. Accommodations,
quality materials, space, and artistic insights are provided by staff
in order for participants to struggle through the mystery and challenge
of the artistic process and communicate with others. Whether the staff
elevate a table to accommodate artists' wheelchairs, suggest shades
of colors for use in foreground images, engage in conversations about
the medium a client artist would like to work with, or place markers or
paintbrushes in clients' hands, they do so in the spirit of collaboration
and with the intent to allow the clients to merge mind and body through
art. Sometimes client and staff artists collaborate on a piece of fine
art, and sometimes production artists collaborate to translate fine art
into products for the gallery (e.g., jewelry, greeting cards). Visiting
artists engage in residencies in which they often introduce a new artistic
medium into the studio (e.g., sand art), and community members participate
in the art-making process through volunteering. Passion Works also collaborates
with other community organizations like Civitan whose mission is to raise
awareness about disability-related issues. Finally, collaborations like
the ones between the monks of Drepung and the clients of Passion Works
are being fostered as civic leaders realize the power of art as a form
of expression for traditionally silenced populations.
Passion Works serves as a model of how to organize economic and aesthetic
opportunities for people otherwise excluded from community life. Tsultrim
Sherab wrote:
 Watching the monks interact with the [Passion Works] artists
was incredible, mainly because I could see so many similarities in their
situations. For the monks, living as refugees in exile, in a land not
their own, they feel as if they have no ability to change their situation,
no power as one person speaking against the tyranny of many....this
gives them a voice, gives them the chance to tell the world outside what
is happening in their country and in their lives in the monasteries...And
that was one of the things that impressed me most about your project of
Passion Works, giving the artists a voice, a medium through which to express
themselves.
 Societal practices typically position people with disabilities as outsiders,
disconnecting them from larger networks of reciprocity in community life.
In the case of artists with mental retardation or developmental disabilities
who have not mastered spoken language, and others (e.g., Tibetan monks)
whose identities are marked by years of exclusion and lack of voice, art
represents a venue for self-discovery and expression and a way to connect
with others.
At Passion Works, art emerges as a way of living in association with
others, a means for cultivating and celebrating community. Throughout
the duration of the Monks' visit, Passion Works artists explored
new subjects and genres of artwork and learned about cultural similarities
(e.g., role of detail in artwork) and differences (e.g., Buddhism, Christianity,
and spirituality).  Likewise, the Monks have been transformed through the
presence and energies of Passion Works' artists. "Though we
didn't understand each others' language, painting and art
was language enough to become friends," stressed Tsultrim Sherab.
This sentiment was embodied in the creation of prayer flags, as described
below.
Jonathon, Alexis, and Cardon (client artists of Passion Works) were
creating prayer flags using pillowcases as canvasses. The artistic expressions
were as diverse as the flags' previous uses: Jonathon drew birds,
Cardin constructed houses, Marsha proudly created a flower, and Alexis
narrated a drawing of two kissing yaks saying I do. "Take out
the papers and the trash.  Or you don't get no spending cash. If
you don't sweep that kitchen floor. You ain't going to rock
and roll no more," wrote Alexis, "Yakety, yak, yakety, yak.
Don't talk back." Patty Mitchell invited two visiting monks,
Sopa and Tsultrim, and Tenzin to join in the collaborative process.
The two monks sat down at the table, and Sopa curved Tibetan words in
an arc around the birds drawn by Jonathon. Tenzin translated the meanings,
"For all beings to have the freedom for peace in their hearts,"
"For success and purification," "A lifelong blessing
for Passion Works." Pillow cases were passed around so each artist
could contribute a different layer to the art, and the energy in the
room was felt by all. Tsultrim drew a wind horse and Tenzin revealed
its symbolism: a prayer for purification. Ultimately, the flags will
be hung so that prayers can be carried by the wind.
 Collaboration at Passion Works is a shifting work in progress, as fluid
as (1) the situated needs of individuals and (2) opportunities that arise
when diverse people come together. In cooperation with others, artists
claim and exercise their rights of citizenship, including the rights of
expression and participation in community life, and move away from historical
patterns of isolation. We invite you to join the collaborative process
in ways that enrich yourself and others.
Lynn M. Harter, Stephanie Norander, and Stephanie Young
July 24th, 2005
Dr. Lynn M .Harter is an Assistant Professor and Stephanie Norander and Stephanie Young are doctoral students in the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University. All correspondence concerning this article can be directed to Dr. Harter at harter@ohio.edu or 740-593-4830.
|
collaborative art: