Why do we share artwork? What is the importance of making art and putting it out there for the world to see? What holds us back from doing so? 
As humans we all face the fear of being viewed or judged by others but we have to find our voice and embrace what is important to each of us in our experience. For me I express it through my artwork. 
This Friday Art Therapy Studio Chicago Ltd is hosting the first Art Works Exhibit featuring 15 artists who completed the last Art Works Course in 2013. I am honored to be able to share my work alongside the fellow artists who are a part of this show. They are: Willow Messier, Sally Giles, Victoria Pietrowski, Alicia Kon, Susan Andrus, Sophie Canade, Jessica Mascenic, Meagan Moller, Tricia Vail, Amy Hahn, Shan Ju-Lin, Nicole Oak Tree and Elizabeth Guest. 
We have each a unique gift to share with the world and it is so important to honor one another's self expression through a shared art show. It gives us something to work toward, something to strive for and something to acknowledge in ourselves and each other. 
Pictured above is a painting I did of my mentor Don Seiden who co-authored the book Art Works with Amy Davis. He is my inspiration for running this course and has helped me to be the docent in empowering others to keep making art and allowing their voices to be heard. I am honored to have the physical space, resources and support to make this possible. I walk through this life hoping to impact others to connect to their creative voice and while doing so they are able to connect with one another and to the human experience through art. 

Are you feeling disconnected from your creative self? Want to get support from others in your artist self? Do you find yourself saying I wish I had time to make art... Well this group is just right for you! Take the leap and join us in reading "Art Works"

Written by Art Therapy Pioneer, Don Seiden and Published Author Amy Davis this book provides an excellent format for helping any artist, writer, dancer reconnect with the act of engaging in making art.
In this 10 week group participants will be given guidance and support to help them reconnect or find their creative self. Through weekly meetings, journaling, reading the book Art Works, connecting in a virtual space and sharing work with one another participants will be provided with ways to connect with ones creative self. 

Now enrolling for the next group scheduled to start February 20th. The group runs for 10 weeks and is offered in person for $125.00, virtual group experience is offered for $50.00 for those who are not able to make it in person. 
The first 10 people who register will get a signed copy of the book!
Call 773-922-1110 to book your space in the group!

Read what others have said about this group:
"I really enjoyed reading the book, and completing the exercises.. thank
you for creating an experience".

"Thank you so very much for creating this book. I think it should be a
requirement in any professional field as a reading. People need to see
the beauty in their every day lives, and this book really helps to
enlighten that perspective".

"I love the book and was so inspired by the explorations. I will
recommend this book to many people in the future. I feel so inspired to
continue making art on my own and thinking about my community, space and
how to look at bringing a sense of art to every aspect of my world".

Friday Night- November 1st, from 7-10pm I am hosting an Open Studio Painting Process group from 7-10pm at Art Therapy Studio Chicago Ltd located at 1579 N Milwaukee Ave #210. The group is a safe non-judgmental space for people to express themselves, explore their creativity and deepen their understanding of themselves. To read more about this visit my site at art-therapist.org The group is 3 hours for the low price of $25.00. Open to anyone who is willing to use art to know oneself. No previous art experience is necessary. Please have anyone interested RSVP to Mary Andrus at 773-922-1110.

Here is an interview with Mary Andrus ATR-BC,LCPC talking about using Art Therapy to cope with the loss of a loved one.

In this 4 week group, participants will come together to make art and honor the loss in a supportive art therapy group setting. Participants must complete an intake prior to the group start and commit to attending all four weeks. Specifically for women who experienced loss in first or second trimester within the last 2 years. 

$100.00 (all materials included) Group runs Wednesdays from     7-9pm May 29th, June 5, June 12, and June 19. All groups will be held at Art Therapy Studio Chicago located at 1579 N Milwaukee Ave Ste 210 Chicago Il 60622. 

Call 773.922.1110 or visit http://www.art-therapist.org/open-studiogroups.html to register.

The group will be co-facilitated by Mary Andrus ATR-BC, LCPC and Melina Stock, MA.

Mary Andrus ATR-BC, LCPC is the founder of Art Therapy Studio Chicago and has been working as an art therapist for over 13 years, treating trauma, grief, mood disorders in a wide range of settings. She is an Adjunct Instructor at Adler School of Professional Psychology as well as Benedictine University and a graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Melina Stock MA is a therapist in the Postpartum Depression Program at HAS, where she has worked extensively with women coping with pregnancy loss. She received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and Art Therapy from The Adler School of Professional Psychology in 2010. She is passionate about and committed to helping women to heal from the profound (and invisible) pain of pregnancy loss through the use of Art Therapy.

I'm working to develop an art therapy group for pregnancy loss and miscarriage with my colleague and have found this book on entitled Grief Unseen: Healing Pregnancy through the Arts,  to be helpful. Hoping to run the group for 4 weeks this summer as a trial for a small group of women. Please email me if you are interested in hearing more about it.

On Saturday March 9th, I took part in an amazing event on the south side of Chicago at the University of Chicago working with the Chicago Women's Aids Project and Friends Against Aids. 

I facilitated two workshops with some brave, courageous and incredible women who came together to share their stories of what it feels like to live in this world with HIV. 

Two of my students from Adler School of Professional Psychology assisted me in this event and it was eye opening for them and powerful for me. 

We had them shout out feeling words that described what it was like for them to travel through life and they wrote out short stories of their experiences. 

We then had them use magazine imagery, their own words and expressions to come together adn create a collaborative art piece that expressed their experience. 
It was such an honor to share this time reflecting with them and to provide them a safe place to let their voices be heard.