I’m shocked to see that it’s been over a year since my last post! ReimagineArt has been busy enough doing the work that writing about it has drifted to the back burner. I now have a moment sit down and reflect on the past 16 months.
Recap: ReimagineArt began as a seed of an idea in late fall 2014. Hitting the half-decade mark, I retired from my counseling practice and went into a season of soul searching around the question of “what next”? Filling my time with the things I know to clear my head, crystallize my thinking, and ground my values, I immersed myself in studying and teaching art, and walking in the woods. Living in Portland, Oregon, the opportunities for both were and are plentiful. My mind locked down on certain imperatives: I have more to give, this giving will come from the heart, and I want to bring some sort of calm and joyful anecdote to the chaos of modern living.
During that time, I happened upon a phrase that percolated a new business concept. This edict was something along the lines of take your passions or what you would do even if you didn’t get paid – for me that would be learning, creating, and teaching art every day that I can, combine your passions with your skill set – add in professional mental health and relational skills (over two decades of it), and find a need. It’s a longer story as to how I know the need exists for stronger relationships and improved mental health in the workplace, but believe me, it’s an increasingly urgent and concerning need as automation and dogged competition pulls us farther and farther away from meaningful human interactions and endeavors.
The ‘Aha!’ moment? With art as my access and medium, bring soft yet impactful professional mental health services into the workplace to strengthen relationships and improve personal wellbeing. Hello ReimagineArt!
The marketing part of bringing this brainchild to the world has been interesting, as business managers and owners tend to enthusiastically get it… or downright don’t. My work is often confused with the wine and canvas classes franchised around the country. Nope – participants do not all recreate the same image. Each facilitated art experience is thoughtfully tailored to meet the specific needs of the group or team in front of me and no two events – nor works created – are exactly alike.
A few recent examples? ReimagineArt designed a three-part creative art teambuilding series for an award winning and quickly growing non-profit garnering national attention for it’s socially groundbreaking work, we provided a high-touch immersive art experience for a day-long offsite for a highly classified innovation team at one of the apparel giants in town, and we offered art-centric first responder support to the co-workers of one the young persons tragically slain on the Portland MAX train. Our work is varied and meaningful, and we are equipped to walk into any situation however light or heavy. Comments received on our follow-up surveys revolve around themes of welcomed bonding and meaningful interactions with co-workers, a refreshing alternative to social drinking, relaxed and non-competitive atmosphere, creative problem solving and self-expression, and invigoration to try new things.
What began as a riveting idea has proven to meet the sticky challenge of supporting human needs in the increasingly dehumanized workplace. Hipster open offices and free flowing brewed beverages can only go so far in getting colleagues to be more genuine and engaged with each other and their work. ReimagineArt succeeds with ease and convenience to businesses to increase trust, enjoyment, respect, understanding, inclusion, and bonding among diverse people, who are, at the end of the day, a business’ most valuable asset.