Alicia Dabney - art, images, and musings

Thesis Mandala

2018-12-13T21:54:00.000-08:00

This August I began my thesis project, which is semester 2 of 3 for the thesis series in my MA-MFT art therapy psychology program.

I began to tally my hours spent writing each week. Each chapter is coded by color to represent my thesis experience. It shows the hours spent writing Chapters 1, 2, 3, and my IRB proposal. Upon completion of my research study, I will add a visual representation of Chapters 4, 5, and my time spent gathering data with participants. So far, I have not documented any class time, but may choose to include it in the margins of the paper when I am done.

The mandala is currently about 18” in diameter and uses paper, tissue paper, and marker on Arches watercolor paper.

Rumi Light

2018-12-12T21:57:00.002-08:00

There's a crack in everything; that's how the light gets in.

I've been working with this concept intermittently for a couple of years now and finally found the perfect stone to capture the essence of this quote: golden amber labradorite with dark feathering.

Art Therapy Experientials, Summer Edition

2018-06-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

I have been immersed in condensed, workshop-style art therapy courses this summer. It has been intense, but also incredibly eye-opening. I have gained a much stronger grasp of cross cultural issues, neurobiological art therapy trauma treatment, art therapy techniques for specific populations, creative arts therapies, and metaphors in psychopathology.

Here is a sampling of some of my own work.

Cross Cultural Issues - Summer 2018

"Art on a Book"

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Cross Cultural Issues - Summer 2018

"Culture Puppet"

Integrating Creative Arts Therapies - Summer 2018

"Found Poetry"

Cross Cultural Issues - Summer 2018

"Group Mandala"

Mandala/Color Theory - Summer 2018

"The Great Round"

Cross Cultural Issues - Summer 2018

"Native Art"

Metaphors in Child Psychopathology/Integrating Creative Arts - Summer 2018

"Mermaid/Monster/Superhero"

Art Therapy Experiential: Narrative Therapy Altered Book

2018-04-23T11:29:00.003-07:00

Methods of Group and Family Therapy - Spring 2018

Narrative Therapy Altered Book

Art Therapy Experiential: Family Hat

2018-04-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

Methods of Group and Family Therapy - Spring 2018

Family Hat

Art Therapy Experiential: Exquisite Corpse

2018-04-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

Methods of Group and Family Therapy - Spring 2018

Exquisite Corpse

What is it like to create without knowing what you’re adding onto? How does each part fit into the greater whole? This was a Gestalt exploration of parts and how they fit into the whole.

Art Therapy Experiential: Round Robin Mandala

2018-04-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

Methods of Group and Family Therapy - Spring 2018

Round Robin Mandala

What is it like to sit in someone else’s perspective? What thoughts and emotions come up? What thoughts and words can I offer others? How do we come together as a group?

Art Therapy Experiential: Self-Care Kit

2018-04-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Trauma and Art Therapy Treatment - Spring 2018

Self-Care Kit

Exploring what grounds and nourishes me. What helps me cultivate joy? How can I process and work through vicarious trauma?

Art Therapy Experiential: Best Practices Jar

2017-12-12T13:25:00.000-08:00

History and Foundations of Art Therapy - Fall 2017

Best Practices Jar

Self-reflection on my core beliefs as an art therapist and the words of wisdom from established art therapists in the field that I’d like to carry forward into my practice.

Art Therapy Experiential: Who Am I?

2017-12-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

Communication and Counseling Skills - Fall 2017

Who Am I? - The Gentle Guide

Exploration of who I am and hope to become as an art therapist.
I am the acorn below.

Art Therapy Experiential: Jung Shadow/Persona Mandala

2017-12-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

Communication and Counseling Skills - Fall 2017

Jung Shadow/Persona Mandala

What masks do I show to the world? What aspects of my shadow and unconscious manifest themselves in my life? This piece was a great opportunity to reflect on Jungian concepts of the shadow, persona, archetypes, and various symbols that lend themselves to Jungian psychology. I was able to think about the conscious and unconscious as well as the ways these things may manifest in my life.

Art Therapy Experiential: Novice, Shadow, and Master Therapist

2017-12-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

Principles of MFT - Fall 2017

Personality "Puppets": Novice, Shadow, and Master Therapist

Who am I as a new art therapist? Who do I hope to become? Which shadow aspects could derail me?

Art Therapy Experiential: Symbol of Self in Change

2017-12-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

Communication and Counseling Skills - Fall 2017

Symbol of Self in Change: Freedom vs. Tension

Depict yourself as you respond to/exist in change within your life. This piece was a great opportunity to reflect on my default response to stressors as well as viewing the ways those responses have changed over time, or possibly vary by situation. It illuminated areas of personal growth as well as areas of response that I can continue to learn from.

Art Therapy Experiential: Insight

2017-12-06T12:08:00.000-08:00

Digital Art Therapy - Fall 2017

2D exploration of the concept of "Insight",

later developed as a 3D exploration in Tilt Brush using Oculus Rift

Art Therapy Experiential: Eldercare Mandala

2017-12-05T12:19:00.000-08:00

Eldercare - Fall 2017

Eldercare Mandala

What are the biopsychosocial aspects of growing old in America? What are my core beliefs as an art therapist and how can I extend those into eldercare? How can I advocate for elders in order to bring about a shift in society and culture’s views of elders?

Art Therapy Experiential: Gender Influences Collage

2017-12-04T12:42:00.000-08:00

Communication and Counseling Skills - Fall 2017

Gender Influences Collage

What were my biggest influences on gender expression and gender roles?

Art Therapy Experiential: Creative Genogram

2017-12-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

History and Foundations of Art Therapy - Fall 2017

Creative Mentorship Genogram

Select an established art therapist in the field to act as the Index Person; interview them to map their influences and mentors spanning at least three generations. Included in this piece are representations of individuals such as Edith Kramer, Margaret Naumberg, Pat Allen, Florence Cane, Erin Partridge, and Richard Carolan.

Painting

2017-11-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

This summer I dusted off my paints (and replaced several tubes that had dried out) to try my hand at my first ever painting course. I have, of course, painted for years but it's always been done independently or tucked into high school art.

These are the pieces that challenged me the most: my first ever self-portrait, an abstract piece based on the concept of transformation, and a piece titled Moon Guide.

Hands in Clay

2017-11-04T19:15:00.001-07:00

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to take my first ever class in ceramics handbuilding. Through that, I also learned how to throw on the wheel, but the focus of my work remained on handbuilding. I found that, above all, working with the clay in my hands could calm me and pull me fully in to the present moment.

These will be added to my portfolio site by the end of the year.

Grandma's Acorn Deck

Handbuilt and textured hollow sphere

Horsehair Raku

Hand burnished sphere, raku firing process, and final piece

Molela-inspired Narrative Tiles

Concept of finding peace and balance in the busy Bay Area

Mr. Bear

Enlarged replica of my child's bear, slab coil technique

Raku Pinch Pot Bowl

Geometric Slab Vase

Anniversaries and Transitions

2017-10-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

October is the cusp between the official anniversary of Elements & Artifacts, my conceptual metalwork and wire jewelry business, and the anniversary of my official transition of such creations from hobby to business. I'm at 9 years and 12 years, respectively. It's difficult to encompass the myriad ways this has served me personally, professionally, creatively, or intellectually. I've even grown in ways I had not anticipated—in areas such as communication, marketing, accounting, and learning annoying new tax laws.

This year these anniversaries are bittersweet, because although I do not intend to drop this creative work, it has been difficult to find time to create my own art or even strike a school/life balance while adjusting to my first semester of graduate school. My coming semester break will be spent in my workshop as a measure of self care, but in the meantime I am transitioning this blog, enabling it to capture my art therapy adventures, projects, and personal artwork in addition to more Elements & Artifacts creations.

Pictured below are glimpses into my workshop, a typical view of my workbench, macro photography setup, a corner of my desk, and yours truly in metalwork safety gear. The second photo shows the way art supplies for school have encroached on my metalwork setup! So far they coexist just fine, but it's a delicate balance and a tight fit.

Growth

2017-08-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

Effective August 2017: Elements & Artifacts will shift from large, themed collections to smaller but hopefully more frequent clusters of concept-based jewelry while I earn my Master's in art therapy psychology. Life is change, growth is optional, and it is my hope that my creative work will continue to develop in the coming years. I look forward to this time of transition and transformation.

Stay tuned, for I do not intend to leave E&A behind! I anticipate releasing new work this autumn.

A preview from my first week of grad school:

Milestones

2016-11-20T19:15:00.000-08:00

I have two bits of exciting Elements & Artifacts news!

First, today I reached 5,000 sales—a hard-earned number given the one-of-a-kind and limited run, handcrafted, and concept-based nature of my work. Since 2005, I have sent my work to over 28 different countries, sold my work to benefit human rights organizations and relief efforts, had two (going on three) pieces on TV shows, and carried work in two museum gift shops and an art gallery. I wouldn't be here without all of you, so THANK YOU. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Second, my Indigo Hour necklace appeared in Season 8, Episode 5 of the hit TV show The Vampire Diaries, which aired on The CW on November 18, 2016. The episode is titled "Coming Home was a Mistake". It was worn by Kristen Gutoskie's character Seline.

Artist's Statement: Ask the Moon to Come

2016-11-18T09:27:00.003-08:00

This collection, more than any others, holds deep personal meaning. Ask the Moon to Come ties together threads and memories from my childhood. It connects with a beloved Lady in the Moon story-turned-meditation that has been a longtime comfort, a source of insight and wisdom, and a beacon of hope in dark times. As I was developing the concepts for these pieces, the breath-taking meaning behind Sara Bareilles’ song Satellite Call came to mind and was integrated alongside other inspiration found in Rumi, Hafiz, Sappho, Pablo Neruda, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, and more.

Put your thoughts to sleep,

do not let them cast a shadow

over the moon of your heart.

Let go of thinking.

—Rumi

This collection further brings together personal explorations, Self-work, mindfulness practice, and creative research that I’ve done across several years, starting in Portland and continuing again in present day. It draws upon the idea of the moon as a symbol of introspection and turning inward, of the interplay of light and dark, of dreams and archetypes, of the heart, and of cycles and patterns found in life.

This collection also connects to the development of my concept-based artwork. Most notably is the body of work by author Marina Warner, a mythographer and historian known for her writing on feminism, art, history, and especially myths; she draws fascinating connections between these things and shows why some stories and depictions have held such deep meaning or significance to us across time. Additionally, Joseph Campbell’s Hero With a Thousand Faces delves into the reasons that people revisit, retell, and add their own creative voice to the myths. I learned of past beliefs, folk takes, moon spirits and myths with the addition of The Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes.

Lastly, this collection draws upon more than one area of my art background: ink illustration, graphic design typesetting, and traditional printmaking techniques (relief printing/intaglio) were adapted into my jewelry techniques. Flammarion’s 1888 star/meteorology engraving served as an anchor for the moon pieces and was used to imprint several pendants in this collection.

Perhaps this is all superfluous compared to the visible, tangible pieces or personal connections that the viewers will make themselves, but it’s rare that I really dig deep to outwardly share my art process. I felt compelled to communicate the meaning behind this one since it has been a profound experience to research, develop, and create.

Awake my dear.

Be kind to your sleeping heart.

Take it out

Into the vast fields of Light

And let it breathe.

—Hafiz

There is a moon inside every human being. Learn to be companions with it.

—Rumi

elementsandartifacts.com

The full collection (including sold work) can be viewed on Flickr.

Elements & Artifacts Anniversary Collection: Autumntide

2016-09-16T16:39:00.001-07:00

I’m excited to announce my new collection of work, not just because September has always been a pinnacle month for Elements & Artifacts in terms of the season, the size of my creative output, and the anniversary celebration, but because this marks 11 years of selling jewelry as part of my creative freelance work with 8 of those years as Elements & Artifacts. The launch of Elements & Artifacts was truly a turning point for me, where my work—art and illustration included—moved from general creative work to concept-based, themed collections where the whole aims to be greater than the sum of its parts.

I love this time of year. It holds the warm, golden cast of light that signals to me the end of summer and the advent of autumn. There exists a slight chill in the morning air with the promise of cozy sweaters in the weeks to come. September also marks my wedding anniversary and the birth of my beautiful daughter.

 I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you for your new and continued presence. Thank you for your excitement, referrals, feedback, comments, and support over the years. Every single thing means so much to me and enables me to shape and grow this offbeat combination of intensely creative art, jewelry, and design work.

Each order placed in September will be shipped with a random assortment of anniversary celebration swag: Bath and Butter Market lip butters in Chai or Cinnamon Cocoa, Bath Teas, pumpkin spice caramels, fine art bookmarks, and more!

Thank you again for all your love and support! Happy September!

Shop Elements & Artifacts

View the full collection on Flickr

Summertime

2016-07-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

It's not often that I release new jewelry without an overarching theme that binds them together, but I've done just that! Sure, these can still be said to be summer-inspired overall, but they are drawn from my entire body of work, from seasons to oceans to creatures of the otherworld to moons, and more.

After my last release I knew I wouldn't have time for a full release with my busy summer, so I sat down and worked backwards, starting entirely with unnamed pieces and no concepts in mind. Some, such as with Beekeeper and Thunderclap, became revisited theme and designs. Others were completely new or else finally gave me a chance to utilize a stone or pendant that had been unused for some time. It was a light-hearted, fun way to make a collection even though my pacing was not as efficient. :)

Here are a few highlights:

Visit elementsandartifacts.com for more!