Assistant Professors Ruby Charak and Raheleh Filsoofi organized a ceramic art therapy workshop in collaboration with the College of Fine Arts, Psychology Club and Intersectionality Club in the Visual Arts Building’s ceramic area.
For the Oct. 19 workshop, 20 students from the clubs attended and were paired with someone they did not know, along with a mentor student who guided them.
Psychology junior Abigail Ventura attended the workshop as a Psychology Club member.
“We got to make little pots out of red clay,” Ventura said. “They had also already made plates for us.”
She said she and other students painted them.
“You had the choice of either painting, carving, shaping a 3D thing on the [potter’s wheel],” Ventura said.
She said she learned about art therapy and how it benefits children since they are more easily distracted.
“As a psychology major, I learned a lot,” Ventura said. “Dr. Charak had given a brief PowerPoint slide where she was talking about how we could tie psychology and art together.
“For some of the psychology majors who want to go into counseling and working with students, younger students, it actually helps to do art therapy because they open up more, and it’s easier to get them more involved.”
Ventura said art can take form through dance, music, painting and sculptures. She said when students are doing these things, they are less self-conscious and they open up more.
The main objective of the workshop was to pair up people who do not know each other. Together, the two would pick a theme and create an object made out of clay. Throughout the process, Charak said students learn about their feelings and partner.
“There is some evidence that clay art therapy is very good, not just for people who have depression and anxiety, but even for students,” Charak said. “It can help you feel more relaxed and less stressed.
“When you’re working with clay, you’re leaving an imprint of something, which is actually just mud, out there.”
Stephanie Arellano, a psychology graduate student, said the experience was relaxing.
Arellano said, “Just taking time to make something, paint something, it’s really … ”
“It’s like a therapy,” interjected biology junior Sonia Wadekar.
Wadekar laughed and said, “I forgot everything I had to do.”
The two made a plate with a sun in the center.
“We painted it black because apparently the black will contrast really well with this green paint and one part will be really light and the other part will be really dark,” Wadekar said.
Art senior Shari Flores said she used the techniques she learned from her classes to teach biology senior Sidra Rafaqut.
Charak said the pieces made will be shown and sold at an exhibit on March 19, 2019. The proceeds will be given to the student clubs.
She will also host a seminar supporting healthy relationships among young adults.
Julian Ford, a licensed clinical psychologist at the University of Connecticut Health Center, will speak at the seminar. Charak said Ford studies complex trauma in young adults and post-traumatic stress disorder. The seminar will also feature a panel of experts discussing interpersonal trauma.
