Welcome to the Recovery in the Arts
Project 2024
Welcome video to the Recovery in the Arts Project
I'm excited to welcome you to Recovery in the Arts project where our theme was "Movement." This inspiring community gathering explored the powerful role of movement in the healing and recovery process. Through dance, physical theater, and interactive workshops, participants had the opportunity to express themselves, connect with others, and experience the transformative power of the arts. Whether you were an artist, a supporter, or someone on a recovery journey, this event promised to be a day of creativity, connection, and celebration. It was a unique opportunity to move, heal, and grow together!
Derek Moore
Thriving Mind of South Florida
Movement & Drawing with Aeon De La Cruz
Facilitating the Recovery in the Arts program was both a challenge and an unpredictable joy! I guided the participants through movement exercises that helped them visualize space, specifically, movement through space. We created blind contours, a type of drawing that requires a strong sense of trust and hand-eye coordination, in which the drawer does not look at the paper. What resulted was unprecedented success: the participants were open, willing, and developed a natural interest in drawing! The blind contours were a turning point; it was both humbling for me as an instructor to shift and adapt in real time from my original curriculum and an opportunity for them to approach a physical concept in a graphic, visual way. Participants became more comfortable with movement, and we explored a few simple concepts in which we traced the drawings to create the movements.
I discovered that drawing brings people together, scales down larger ideas, and safely gets them out of their comfort zones—something I originally associated with movement! By taking a more indirect route, I had a more gratifying experience learning from the participants. It was so precious watching them learn from themselves and each other! I can see them being more creatively inclined to take this practice forward into their daily lives and use drawing as a therapeutic tool or creative exercise to help with recovery.
Movement & Dancing with Hector Machado
As someone who has tried to end their own life and survived (now living as a double amputee with a below knee amputation on my right leg & above knee amputation on my left leg), I know the true power that dance can make one’s life and it has been an honor to be share myself and my craft with the members of Fresh Start Miami Inc. Dancing offers plenty of benefits for your emotions, intelligence, and relationships. By learning and practicing movement I saw the participants Improve self-esteem, Improve their mood and attitude, ease their anxiety, and improve their memory. This all took place within 5 sessions, imagine what a year long class can do for the participants.
Photography with Roxy Azuaje
Year after year, we witness the transformative power of art in the recovery journey. This year felt particularly special as we embraced the theme of Movement. Joyfully moving our bodies can bring profound benefits, and I had the privilege of seeing firsthand how impactful this was for our participants.
In photography, capturing movement can be a challenge. While sharp images are often the goal, experimenting with motion can unlock new realms of creativity and fun. The key is to focus on what we see and explore unique perspectives that bring energy and life to our work.
