Hexagons of Dignity
The Hexagons of Dignity was a community art project for people to explore their sense of personal dignity. I asked participants to remember when they had experienced feeling respected and valued.
The prompts were: When do you feel most in harmony and at peace with yourself? When do you feel joy, a sense of happiness just being yourself? Can you recall person or place where you felt at ease expressing the truth about who you are? Is there an image that comes up that represents any of these experiences? If not, if you could imagine yourself being happy and at ease with yourself what would that look like?
I then asked participants to start by creating the image that arose that inspired them the most. If no image had emerged, they could express a feeling in color by choosing any color they were most attracted to and draw or paint with that color. Their image might be abstract. I assured them that there was no right or wrong way to do this, to remain curious so they could express themselves freely.
I was available to participants if they needed support while designing and executing their hexagon of dignity. I answered questions and helped to guide people if difficult feelings arose. Once people completed their hexagons, I invited them to share about their process and the meaning it had for them.
Because of the Covid Pandemic, we couldn’t meet in groups. But a large percentage of people were comfortable sharing their experience one on one with me. Some people chose to write a short description about their hexagon and experience of making it, while others shared their experience with me via a phone call and I wrote it down.
There were over 100 participants from diverse cultural backgrounds and belief systems, ranging from ages 2-84. Sixty-nine hexagons were donated to the project. I’d planned to sew them together, making individual hexagons into one large community art tapestry. But because of the Pandemic “shelter in place” prohibitions, there was no public place for an exhibit, nor could people gather in public to see them. In order to display the Hexagons of Dignity, I photographed and showcased them on my website. I also created a Hexagons of Dignity page on Facebook, to honor each person’s creative work, including their written description if they made one.
I received a grant from Creative Sonoma for the Art Tent Project. The first phase of this project was for the community to gather and paint a mural on the tent itself. The Hexagons of Dignity were part of this overall mural design and the community’s individual unique contributions to this mural design. I focused on the Hexagons of Dignity portion of of the Art Tent Project to create a viable community experience under the Pandemic mandates. I took the project materials to individuals who were “sheltered in place” and to some who were un-sheltered. Creative Sonoma grant funders were very supportive of the innovations necessary, under the circumstances. I was able to meet the grant requirements and fulfill my commitment.
Community art process calls for deep reflection, and amplifies individual voices, re-shaping ideas of ourselves and others, while creating inclusion. The collaboration with diverse communities also broadens our perspective exposing us to new possibilities and opportunities.
I am available to facilitate classes and/or workshops for developing Hexagons of Dignity in other settings. I utilize the core principals of whole person-centered expressive arts in all facilitating environments. Please contact me if you would like further information and to schedule a workshop.
Past Community Support:
The Clinical Director of New Directions School, Lisa Manthe and the Creative Arts Team of the California Parenting Institute (CPI) were enthusiastic about including the Hexagons of Dignity Tapestry in their Shelter In Place home arts projects for at risk youth they serve. CPI provided these youth, the New Directions students, with art supplies and the pre-cut primed canvas hexagons were added to this care package.
"I am writing to extend my full support and commitment as a collaborator in the Hexagons of Dignity Tapestry . The community of New Directions greatly benefited from our inclusion within the start of your Art Tent Project , and we were delighted that the project has been adapted in response to COVID-19 . The adolescents of New Directions represent a highly marginalized population who are facing the challenges of trauma, socio-economic limitations, and inadequate housing. These projects offer them the opportunity to create connections and contemplate dignity, identity, community, and place. The adolescent artists, through the experience of creating their storied artworks and reflective dialogue regarding the human condition of dignity, will become empowered and experience inclusion and a broader sense of community.
Now more than ever, our adolescents are isolated from the connection and community that they need to address their identity development. Community art process calls for deep reflection, and will amplify their voices, shaping their ideas of themselves and others while creating inclusion.The art process within the Hexagons of Dignity Tapestry reflects the wisdom of the multi- cultural traditions of storied textiles bridging generations and cultures. Community mural projects such as the Hexagons of Dignity Tapestry serve as counter narratives challenging the oppressive social forces that predict voice and power.
The collaboration with diverse communities broadens their perspective exposing them to new opportunities. The community of New Directions continues to be excited by the leadership opportunities this project offers our youth.” Lisa Manthe, PHD
March 2020
Let's create together!
I am available to facilitate classes and/or workshops for developing Hexagons of Dignity in your setting. I utilize the core principals of whole person-centered expressive arts in all facilitating environments.
Art Tent project
An Invitation To Create in Community
The Art Tent's first project was initially, designing and painting a “pop up” canvas tent in collaboration with homeless community members, human rights advocates and housed Sonoma County residents. This project was postponed due to Shelter In Place Mandates. When these mandates were not lifted in a viable way, the original tent purchased for the project was donated to the Oglala Lakota Nation of Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
Mural Design booklet 32"X 32"
Three Sisters Mural
The Three Sisters Mural was designed as a community project for youth at the Ceres Community Project garden in Santa Rosa and youth at the SAY Dream Center. The mural design illustrates the interdependence of all sentient beings from starlight to salmon. We come from one another. We are a biological ecosystem interdependent on countless others. The mural is dedicated in honor of the indigenous beings of the region.
The three sisters, corn, beans and squash are native plants to the Americas. The plants are often personified in indigenous story telling. The synergy between the three sisters demonstrates collective resiliency and interdependence. All three sisters grow strong in harmony with one another; each adding their reflection of starlight.
Corn shoots up first and provides a sturdy stalk for the beans to vine up. The delicate tendrils and flowers of bean can spiral up the corn stalk as they both grow. The bean pods can dangle freely as they ripen on the vine. The bean roots interact with bacteria in the soil that collects nitrogen. The beans in turn, extract nitrogen from the soil, and store it in nodules along their roots. Beans are known for adding nitrogen to the soil as they synthesize it from the bacteria and make it available for other plants, like corn and squash.
The squash has big sprawling leaves and provides shade to the roots of the corn and beans, helping to keep moisture in the soil. Many bacteria thrive amidst the shade cover of the squash. She provides a canopy for bacteria that gather light and create serotonin to nourish life. The leaves of plants gather the sun, moon, starlight and water. The flowers, fruits and vegetables attract bees and feed birds, and us.
Sarah volunteered her time and the mural was completed in August of 2019. It can be seen at the Ceres Project Garden on the SAY Finley Dream Center Campus 2447 Summerfield Rd. Santa Rosa, CA 95405.
We are a biological ecosystem interdependent on countless others.
Painting Birds
Stencils were created to lay out birds and bees for pattern uniformity. The stenciled images were then painted.
Painting Salmon
Marge Mount volunteered as an elder artist and is known for her fine art paintings. A retired arts educator of at risk youth, Marge painted salmon outlined by youth and donated invaluable moral support to the lead artist.
Puzzle Project
The Puzzle Project was designed in a retreat format for homeless and transitionally housed women. The women met on a Saturday at The Living Room, a day service campus providing support for women and children experiencing housing insecurity. The project was developed to reinforce that each unique person and puzzle piece matters and has a place in the whole puzzle. Essentially, the completed Puzzle Project can be hung on all sides rendering four ways of hanging the puzzle. The viewer can have different perspectives to the whole Puzzle Project.
There were twenty puzzle pieces cut from a 4’X5’ sheet of MDO board. The women chose their puzzle piece without knowledge of how the puzzle piece would articulate with other puzzle pieces. The prompt was, “depict the core need or aspiration you want to manifest in your life.” Alternatively, they could follow their inspiration; allowing themselves to be informed by color and what arose spontaneously. Acrylic paint and permanent markers were available. The women assembled the puzzle at the end of the retreat. They experienced how their unique puzzle piece and creative expression was part of the whole puzzle. Together they made a mural of extraordinary power.
Some women continued working on their puzzle pieces, completing them during the Expressive Arts classes at The Living Room. These classes have been held for the last six years. Generosity from a local Philanthropist conceived of and funded the classes through the California Parenting Institute and their Creative Arts team. The whole person-centered approach fundamental to these classes has helped to resource many women traumatized and experiencing PTSD, further exacerbated by lack of housing stability. A creative safe environment is provided where positive regard is cultivated and encouraged. Social interactions are reinforced in a manner conducive to creative self- exploration, building on tolerance, understanding, respect and trust. The classes are currently co facilitated by Shellee Davis and Sarah Hylton.
Cutting puzzle pieces
Puzzle shapes were painted on a 4'X5' sheet of MDO board. MDO board is a masonite laminate that when primed on both sides and edges can be used in outdoor installations. Using a jigsaw the pieces were cut, sanded and primed.
Artists Assemble Puzzle
At the end of the retreat time, artists assembled the puzzle, discovering how their artwork interfaced with others. Some women continued working on their designs within the Expressive Arts classes held at The Living Room.