T4: Center for Creative Expression for Persons with TBI
Project Directors: Karen A. Hart, Ph.D., Margaret
Struchen, Ph.D., Sunil Kothari, M.D.
Staff: Terri Hudler-Hull, M.S.
Overview
This project is aimed at helping persons with TBI to find meaning through self-expression. This project partners with The Orange Show Foundation, a local organization for artists, whose mission is to promote the artistic expression of ordinary people. The project brings together artists (musicians, painters, sculptors, theater performers, dancers, etc.) and individuals with TBI at organized classes in a variety of media. The artists leading the classes are aided by physical, occupational, speech, and music therapists with a specialization in TBI.
Update
The first round of classes were Dance, Drums and Mosaics. The Dance class was held on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. The Drum class was held on Thursdays at 7:00 pm. And the Mosaic class was held at Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. All classes were held at the accessible West Gray Multi-purpose Center in Houston, Texas. Advertisement for the classes was done through word of mouth, flyers posted at many locations, and postings on our Center's website at www.tbicommunity.org. There were 9 students enrolled in the Dance class, 7 students enrolled in the Drum class and 10 students enrolled in the Mosaic class. Barriers to participation seemed to be primarily transportation and weather.
Selection for the second round of classes was based on surveys from participants in the first group of classes and individuals who contacted us in various ways expressing interest in the Center for Creative Expression. The classes selected for the second round were Creative Movement, Creative Writing, and Painting. The days of the week and times of day were changed in an effort to engage more participants. The Creative Movement class was held on Tuesdays at 6:00 pm. The Creative Writing class was held on Tuesdays at 3:00 pm. The Painting class was held on Thursdays at 10:00 am. The enrollment was 9 students in the Creative Movement class, 9 students in the Creative Writing class 8 students in the Painting class.
During the third round of classes we decided to have the classes more frequently over a shorter period of time and take one of the classes to another location. The selection of topics again was based on surveys and input from the past participants, inquirers and our Advisory Group. The classes selected were Acting, Paper Mache/Piņata, and Drawing. The days of the week and times of day were changed in an effort to engage more participants. The Acting class was held on Thursdays at 7:00 pm. The Paper Mache/Piņata class was held on Saturdays at 1:00 pm. The Drawing class was held on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm at The Arts Alliance Center of Clear Lake. This was a new location, 30 miles away on the south part of town near NASA. The enrollment was 3 students in the Acting class, 5 students in the Paper Mache/Piņata class and 2 students in the Drawing class.
During the fourth round of classes we decided to have the classes weekly and continue the class in the NASA area at The Arts Alliance Center of Clear Lake. The selection of topics again was based on surveys and input from the past participants, inquirers and our Advisory Group. The classes selected were Photography, Film & Writing, and Collage. The Photography class was held on Saturdays at 10:30 am. The Film & Writing class was held on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm. The Collage class was held on Thursdays at 10:30 am at The Arts Alliance Center of Clear Lake. The enrollment was 5 students in the Photography class, 3 students in the Film & Writing class 4 students in the Collage class.
The fifth round of classes was held weekly and
we continued to have the additional class in Clear
Lake. The selection of topics again was based on
surveys and input from the past participants, inquirers
and our Advisory Group. The classes were Photography,
Art Car and Clay. The Photography class was held
on Thursdays at 10:30 am in Clear Lake. The Art
Car class was held on Saturdays at 1:00 pm. The
Clay class was held on Mondays at 4:00 pm. The enrollment
was 4 students in the Photography class, 7 students
in the Art Car class 3 students in the Clay class.
The sixth round of classes was held weekly with
two classes in Houston and one class in Clear Lake.
The classes included Creative Fare (cooking) on
Thursdays at 7:00 pm, Gift Making on Tuesdays at
2:30 pm, and Clay on Thursdays at 11:00 am. We enrolled
16 in Creative Fare, 10 in Gift Making and 4 in
Clay, which was held in Clear Lake.
The seventh round of classes were held weekly with
two classes in Houston; The Artist in You on Tuesdays
at 2:00 pm, and Art Car on Wednesdays at 4:30 pm
and one class in Clear Lake, Mosaics at 10:30 am.
We enrolled 6 in The Artist in You, 3 in Art Car
and 5 in Mosaics.
The eighth round of classes is being held weekly
with two classes being held in Houston only because
we did not have enough interest in the Clear Lake
class to hold it this session. The classes are Garden
Art on Tuesdays at 10:30 am and Mural Art on Thursdays
at 5:30 pm. We have 8 enrolled in Garden Art and
13 enrolled in Mural Art.
Contact Terri Hudler-Hull at 713-630-0526 or by e-mail at to sign up for the classes or to talk about your ideas.
