Create Arts Center

WINTER 2015/2016

It is the most wonderful

time of the year for ART
After being a camper at CREATE Arts Center for eight years, 14-year-old Josie has
chosen to return to the center to become a counselor in training.
Many campers at the center experience the same eager feeling of returning to camp.
Sasha, 11, has been coming to the center since he was in kindergarten. The center is a place
where children like Josie and Sasha can feel free while creating art projects that enhance
their creativity.
Ive gone to this camp year after year, because of its unique projects and staff. Each
activity teaches a new skill, and we work with so many different materials and techniques
each day, said Josie. Throughout the eight years I have been coming here I have had so
much fun, and even now I get excited when doing a project!
Your child, niece, nephew, cousin, etc. can also be a part of the centers family. It is
not too late to register for the Winter Art Camp offered every year during local, public,
private and charter schools winter breaks.
The camp is a fun and relaxing way for children to spend time off from school. During a
typical day at camp, children work on a variety of projects that include: cartooning, collage
making, bookmaking, self-portrait, puppets and more fun.
Denise, the parent of two children who attended camp said,we had a gallery display,
both kids displayed all of their work from the week. It took us an hour to go through
everything the children explained what they did for each project, why and all of the things
they learned. You are awesome.
The center
displays
students
artwork
everywhere!
Beautiful art
surrounds the
outside of the
center.

By: Create Arts Center

Proud students: Children from the

winter camp last year proudly holding

In this Issue:
Art therapy p.2
Testimonials p.2
SmARTkids Program
p. 3
Benefits of an Arts
Education p. 3
STUDIO Downstairs
p.4
Our Founder, Tamar
Hendel p.4
Get Involved p.4

By: Karina Meza

For more information about CREATE: create@createartscenter.org

or 301-588-ARTS

Art therapy at CREATE Arts Center

Tamar Hendel created CREATE Arts Center with the hope of
working with clients who need therapeutic intervention. The center
creating a place where she could use what she learned about art
offers different types of art therapy for those who need big t, or for
therapy to help others in the community.
those who need small t therapy.
At the center, art therapy involves working with licensed
The main form of big t therapy offered is individual art therapy.
professionals to address cognitive, emotional and behavioral needs
Individual art therapy is for clients who need the therapeutic
for children and adults. Therapists support these needs through
intervention to help foster creativity, express, self-esteem and
structured art projects in a supportive environment. Therapies are
personal growth. Clients may range from children to adults who
available individually or in a group.
suffer from stress, depression,
Art therapy is a mental health
trauma, anxiety, illness, eating
profession in which clients, facilitated Members showing of their various types of bird masks from
disorders and family relationships.
Create a Mask Day. Students were able to make their mask
by the art therapist, use art media,
The center offers two different
By: CREATE Arts Center
the creative process, and the resulting however they wanted.
types of small t therapy, Studio
artwork to explore their feelings,
Downstairs and Art for Autism.
reconcile emotional conflicts, foster
Studio Downstairs is a group
self-awareness, manage behavior
therapy program for adults who
and addictions, develop social skills,
have mental illnesses. This group
improve reality orientation, reduce
therapy program helps adults relax
anxiety, and increase self-esteem,
and enjoy themselves by giving
according to the American Art
them social support, and the
Therapy Association.
freedom to work on their art in a
At the center, art therapists
group setting.
emphasize the process involving
Art for Autism is also a group art
art therapy. The product isnt as
therapy program, but it is tailored
important to the therapists as long as
for children and adolescents who
the process is helpful for the member.
have Autism or Autistic features.
During the process the individual
Through this program, members
may be working on their art project, but at the same time also doing
may build relationships and help develop social skills.
therapy. For example, an art therapist might be working with an
The center provides at least one therapist accompanied by two art
individual by trying to teach him or her a social skill, such as saying,
teachers for the art therapy classes. There are usually 4-5 people who
thank you.
attend the group therapy classes. The teacher-to-student ratio ensures
To the individuals, art is their form of expression. The structure of
that all the individuals are given the attention and help they need.
the classes at the center offers an individual freedom to take their art
A few years ago, Lauren Schlenger, who is an art teacher at
into their own direction. Therapists work with individuals to meet
CREATE, was helping teach an Art for Autism class. After the first
their needs but help them grow as well. Therapists show respect to
day of class the parents of a member called Schlenger to tell the
the child by putting them in charge of their projects.
center what their child had said to them as soon as he got home from
Hendel believes that there are two components to art therapy. The
his first day at an Art for Autism class. The parents told the center
first is small t therapy where the therapy is a way to relax and enjoy that he had said, Mommy it feels like I dont have Aspergers when
for individuals. The other component is big t therapy, which is
Im there.

TESTIMONIALS
I liked how [our teachers] let
us have freedom and flexibility
to make the projects our own
and have fun with them.
I have been coming here since
kindergarten and it reminds me
of fun times with my friends. I
also loved all the projects we did
this week at camp. Sasha, 11

Ive gone to this camp year after year

because of its unique projects and
staff. Each activity teaches a new skill,
and we work with so many different
materials and techniques each day.
Throughout the 8 years I have been
coming here I have had so much fun,
and even now I get excited when doing
a project! Josie, 14 (CIT; CREATE
camper for 8 years)

Art classes for the community

Art teacher, David Johnson, talks to students about art techniques

they can use in their projects.

By: CREATE Arts Center

CREATE Arts Center offers a program named SmARTkids for

low-income students who need a free after school activity to display
their creativeness, and practice art and social skills.
Students are selected based on teacher, counselor and assistant
principal recommendations of children who are at risk of falling
behind in school. The center offers a place were these students have
a community of support to help them get through school in a unique
way.
The center forms small classes, where students will work
on structured art projects that are designed to improve their
academic and social skills. The projects will also help them build

self-confidence and build on their imaginations through creative

thinking. Activities during the classes include working on new art
techniques, listening to stories, having informal discussions, and
eating healthy snacks during small breaks. The classes also offer
an opportunity for children to work on reading, writing and public
speaking.
The small group atmosphere ensures self-esteem and social skills
growth. Because there arent many children in each class, students
get more of an opportunity to interact with their peers.
At the the end of the classes, students get to show off all of their
hard work through an art show where family, friends and teachers
can come see all the art projects
students have been working on, and
see students proudly talk about their
creations. After taking the classes
art teachers have seen how students
feel a sense of pride of everything
they have accomplished. The center
now offers this program at five
schools, and has helped over 200
children.
A previous student said, I
wasnt as creative as I am now, I
can open up my creation here, this
whole class is kind of changing my
This is the best thing Ive
life.
ever done. - Mary, 8 years old

By: CREATE Arts Center

STUDIES SHOW 5 BENEFITS OF AN ARTS EDUCATION

There are 10 salient studies on the benefits of
an art education, according to an article by
online colleges. A report by the Arts Education
Partnership revealed that students who received
more arts education did better on standardized
tests in reading, writing and math. Another
report by Rand Corporation showed that art
could help close the gap between socioeconomic
groups. The Center for Arts Education found a
correlation between students with the highest
graduation rates and students who have a greater
access to arts education and resources. Another
study by Missouri public schools found that
arts education had a significant effect on test
scores, such as the SAT. Finally, John Hopkins
researchers found that having an arts education
can change brain structures to help them transfer
their motor skills to similar areas. There is
no end to the wide-range of benefits of an arts
education.

There is no age limit for ART lovers

Tamar Hendel working with a member of Studio

Downstairs on an art collage project.

By: CREATE Arts Center

Adults can be a part of the CREATE

Arts Center family as well. Studio
Downstairs is an art studio and
therapeutic community specifically
for adults with mental illnesses, but
adults with other disabilities can join
as well. The studio is a place where
adults can feel comfortable working
on their own art, but also a place
where they have support system that
checks-in on them to see how they
are doing each time they meet.
While they are doing art in a
group setting, they are also partaking
in group therapy, without the feeling
of being in an institutional setting.
Members may see their artistic skills
improve, and emotionally feel better
as well. Members may also see their
social skills improve, especially after
socializing with other art lovers who
they feel they can connect with.

From Holocaust survivor to art therapist,

meet our founder Tamar Hendel
As a 7-year-old Jewish refugee during World War II,
Tamar Hendel looked to art as an escape from reality.
She was a refugee living in Italy, where Italians let
them live in peace.
Jewish children werent allowed to attend school like
Italian children could, which meant Hendel had a lot of
free time.
During her time in Italy, Hendel learned the beauty
of art through her mother, who taught her how to
draw, sew and embroider. Hendel grew a newfound
appreciation with drawing and saw drawing as a way to
free her mind from the horrors surrounding her.
In late 1943, Hendel and her family were permitted
to temporarily enter the United States, along with other
immigrants.
Three years later, her family was notified that they were allowed to stay in the country.
Hendel was finally able to go back to school and recieved
Forty years after being a 7-year-old living in fear, Hendel founded CREATE Arts Center.
Hendels main goal for the center was to create a place where everyone can see the benefits of
art classes and art therapy.
As an art therapist, Hendel created the center with the goal of seeing art helping members
of the community, like art helped her during her difficult childhood.

Stay Connected
with us!

Like us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/CREATEArtsCenter

Other then the art classes and

therapy, members also get to attend
museum visits. All members also
get the chance of their work being
displayed in local galleries, and
sometimes their work gets sold!
Studio Downstairs meets twice a
week for three hour-long sessions.
Members must also commit to the
classes for a minimum of three
months. Paying for the program is
determined on an individual basis
and can be paid on a sliding scale.
For more information or to schedule
an informational meeting you can
contact the center at: 301-588-2787.
A previous member of Studio
Downstairs described the program
as being, The chance to create art
work, to meet interesting people
from all walks of life, and engage in
conversation.

GET INVOLVED!

Employment: The center seeks

qualified visual arts teachers for
classes, camps and workshops.
If you are interested, email a
resume and cover letter to lauren@
createartscenter.org
Volunteer/Intern: Have an

interested in art? Looking to find a

fun and meaningful way to help out
the community? If you answered
yes, then CREATE is the place for
you!

Donate: $75: Teach a new form

of expression to an autistic child
through a session of art therapy.
$250: Give a low-income child the
ability to bring her ideas to life at a
week of summer camp.
$500: Empower an at-risk middle
school student to improve his
attitude towards self, school and
learning through a semester of afterschool art.
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