HEALING THROUGH CREATIVITY
Healing Through Creativity Festival
2008
Friday-October 10th
to
Sunday -October 19th
Davis Fine Arts Center of WVSU
Institute, West Virginia
Website: www.HealingThroughCreativity.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(A Festival From the Heart and Soul)
History, Purpose, Objectives and GoalsDr. Judith L. Herman in the benchmark book
"Trauma and Recovery" states that,
"Supportive responses from other people can mitigate
the impact of a traumatic event."
She goes on to say that,
"Overcoming feelings of abandonment is
a major step forward in recovering from trauma."
***************************************
In March 2005, an opportunity arose to meet the needs
of survivors of trauma where each person could share
creative works which helps promote healing.
The Healing Through Creativity Festival began in 2005
to provide an environment for all survivors
to share and express what each chooses to share
in a safe and accepting atmosphere.
Creative works which are entered
into the Festival are not judged.
Entrants can register anonymously, if desired.
The Healing through Creativity Festival
focuses on the expression of the positive aspects
of healing from the effects of trauma
and it promotes community awareness.
Progressing from simple appreciation of the causes
and nature of trauma to a deeper understanding,
attitudes begin to change.
This alone helps to prevent further or lessen
the severity of similar trauma.
On April 15, 2005, the Healing Through Creativity Festival
found a home in Putnam County, West Virginia
at the Museum in the Community.
In July 2005, the initial Healing Through Creativity
meeting took place.
*****************************************
Then in the Fall of 2005, Tracey Ballard answered
the call for help on the After Silence Message Board.
She agreed to create the Healing Through Creativity web site
and by November 2005, the site was up and receiving
as many as several hundred visits per day.
The web is the primary and central means of communication
and houses the guidelines and news of the Festival.
July 1 - 29, 2006
The initial Healing through Creativity Festival
was held. It was designed by survivors for survivors and
focused on the counties surrounding Charleston, WVa.
Although most participants are local, survivors
from across the United States from as far as California
have traveled to Hurricane, West Virginia to be part
of the month-long Festival
with music, poetry readings and art Exhibit.
Other survivors participated via e-mail as far away as
Nigeria, Argentina, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
***********************************
This year (2007), the Healing Through Creativity Festival
has drawn participants from as far away as Australia.
We hope that the Festival will continue to grow
with ideas and expand to new locations.
*****************************
2007 PHOTOS and SCHEDULE OF EVENTS BELOW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JULY 1st- 29th 2007
EXHIBITS - POETRY READINGS - MUSIC - WORKSHOPS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Photo by L. Toborowsky 2007
Photo by L. Toborowsky 2007
TRACEY BALLARD traveled to W. Va. from Australia with her husband and children for the Annual Healing Through Creativity Festival.
Photo by L. Toborowsky 2007
Photo by L. Toborowsky 2007
Photo by L. Toborowsky
Photo by L. Toborowsky 2007
Photos by L. Toborowsky 2007
GEORGE ROBERTSON President of the Healing Through Creativity
Photo by L. Toborowsky 2007
SARAH FOX with her Art display
Photo by L. Toborowsky 2007
BRENDA DUFF with her Art displays
Photo by L. Toboorowsky 2007
Photo by L. Toborowsky 2007
POETRY READINGS at the MUSEUM in the COMMUNITY
Photo by L. Toborowsky 2007
IN MEMORIUM
~ REMEMBERING ~ JODI LARSON
| |||