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Art Without Boundaries A consortium of caring artists creating a circle of compassion |
The Magic of MnemeTherapy® |
The Art Without Boundaries Foundation has tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code TM 2005 Art Without Boundaries™ and MnemeTherapy™ are both trademarks with all rights reserved. You may not copy or reproduce anything from this website without written permission from AWBA The Art Without Boundaries Association, Inc. webmaster |
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| "Come on...did she really do that?" |
Most people find it hard to believe that the paintings they see on this website are actually the work of Alzheimer's patients and autistic children. Once they see the process of MnemeTherapy, however, they begin to understand how directed painting works. The perfect example is a putting on a play. The Play's The Thing To stage a play, you must have a script, a director, set builders, stage hands, some actors and an audience. If you take away any part, it becomes something quite different. Without a script or director, it's improv. Without an audience, it's a rehearsal. |
| The Actor (The Role of the Client) Each part is integral, but the success or failure of a play all hinges on the actors. You can have a wonderful, witty script, excellent director, a lovely stage and an eager audience, but if the actor gives a poor or indifferent performance, the whole thing goes down the tubes. Each step of the MnemeTherapy process is integral to the success of the session, but it's the client , playing the role of the "actor" who drives the performance. The first thing we need is their cooperation. Willingness to participate is our only criteria. Without that, nothing can happen. |
| (The MnemeTherapist or MT) As Director, the MT must become the master of time and illusion, quickly drawing the client's attention and keeping it. The Director's job is to move the actor smoothly and seamlessly through each "scene". The Director coaches from the "house" (stage slang for the seats), giving instruction, demonstrating a stroke or movement, shaping the painting by providing expertise in color and composition, just as a director molds the play with his or her own insight and experienced eye. It's not our job to get up on the stage and take over the actor's role |
| We follow a strict criteria about intervention.. We can correct a run, straighten a vase, establish a "guide line," which is important in instructing the brain about "straight," and patterning a stroke. Painting on a client's work is prohibited. Our job, like any good director, is to insure the actor's success |
| Patterning a stroke |
| The Script (The process of MnemeTherapy) MnemeTherapy is a multi-modality process. That means we use not only painting, but singing, movement, patterning, sustained attentive focus, story-telling and praise to achieve our goals. It's the act of painting or DIRECTED PAINTING that does the work of engaging and reorienting the brain through multiple means of communication. The paintings are instructional, not expressive. Our goal is not to uncover emotions, interpret the art or help our client get in touch with hidden feelings. That's the job of a trained and licensed Art Therapist. Our process is about creating sustained attentive focus to initiate neuroplasticity, or the brain's ability to change. We can also provide the caregiver with valuable information about fall risk: brain blindness, not understanding instruction or their brain's body map" is corrupted. WE GET INFORMATION FROM THE BRAIN AND GIVE INFORMATION TO THE BRAIN Even though each painting is done with the same steps, the work is creative and full of wonder, as the artist enjoys the experience of painting without the fear of outcome. It's a pure form of art, full of discovery and freedom. |
| Above left, an example of "creative" or "expressive" art by one of our clients, followed by examples of "Directed Painting" |
| Take a bow Would anyone put on a play that wasn't going to be seen by an audience? The need for recognition and approval is a basic human requirement. It's also strong medicine. By sharing our talents, we insure the success of our client and we are rewarded with the best ending of all, a happy smile. |
| The Curtain Call Although our goal is to provide a rewarding experience, documented testimonies show significant improvement in some clients in verbal skills, mobility, combativeness, spatial acuity and understanding instructions. Click here to read our documented testimonies or about the amazing changes in our autistic students CLICK HERE to read testimonials of dramatic changes in adults |
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What is MnemeTherapy?? From the Trailer to the Documentary, "Art Without Boundaries" produced and directed by Celia Zaentz and Burrill Crohn. It will be shown at Film Festivals across the country and then released for viewing by the public. |
