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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2018)
4 Wednesday, August 15, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon The healing power of art Art fest showcases the exceptional By Jodi Schneider Correspondent Other than making random doodles in the margins of a page while you’re killing time, if you’re like most adults, you don’t express yourself with art like you did as a kid. You may not think you’re any “good” at creating art, or you may not think it’s worth your time, but art is actually a valuable pas- time, even for those who don’t consider themselves artisti- cally inclined. There are many reasons that art is a great stress-relief tool, even for those who don’t consider themselves to be artists. Some people are deeply talented artists who can cre- ate lifelike paintings, amusing cartoons, powerful pointillism drawings and other pieces of art with relative ease. Others struggle to draw stick figures. But when it comes to stress management, the end product doesn’t really matter; it’s the process of creating a piece of art that counts. Many people who are artis- tically inclined say that the creation of their art is a won- derful stress-reliever. In fact, the creation of art can provide a distraction from stressful thoughts and experiences, and a chance to get into a medi- tative-type state that can be restorative in many ways. Local artist and author Dennis McGregor under- stands why art is therapeutic for him. “Being engaged in the cre- ative process brings a sense of well-being that’s unlike any other of life’s rewards,” McGregor said. Studies show that art therapy, coloring mandalas, and drawing in general can minimize anxiety and combat negative mood. Most of the studies have people drawing or coloring for about 20 min- utes, so it’s really not neces- sary to be a gifted or serious artist for this stress-reliever to be helpful; no artistic ability is required. One reason the art of cre- ating, such as coloring, paint- ing, writing or sewing may be helpful for stress is that the act itself brings us to the present moment – it can be a wonder- ful exercise in mindfulness. There are many ways you can engage in artistic activi- ties to soothe stress, or just to deepen your inner peace and express yourself, and each has its own appeal, based on your personality and needs. Carl Jung was one of the original advocates for creat- ing mandalas as a therapeutic tool, and a lot of therapists and art enthusiasts have joined in recommending this practice in the decades since. Mandalas are circular designs that often include intricate patterns and sym- bols within them. One study found that creating mandalas minimized the symptoms of trauma in PTSD patients a month after patients engaged in this activity three times. It allows you to root yourself in the moment as you create a piece of art, and somewhat frees you from concerns about whether the pictures look “good” or even realistic. Your mandala can look however you want it to look, and it can be rich with meaning or just a bunch of shapes and squiggles See HEALING on page 6 By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief Sisters has become an arts community. Over the week- end of August 24-26, art- lovers from Sisters can take in some of the most excep- tional art to be found on the West Coast in the annual Art in the High Desert festival at the Old Mill District in Bend. Art in the High Desert is one of the most highly rated art festivals in the nation, featuring 115 artists selected from across North America in a juried show that ranks 10th in the nation for sales, according to Art Fair Sourcebook (out of some 600 festivals). Dave and Carla Fox have cleaved to a vision to create a showcase for premium fine art that would attract serious art patrons to the banks of the Deschutes River. The festi- val is solely an art show — there are no food vendors, no music or other activities. “Just extraordinary, real good, new original art,” Dave Fox says. By keeping the focus tight and the show at a manage- able size with no ambitions for growth, Art in the High Desert is able to create an experience where art patrons have an opportunity to really engage with artists. That engagement is a key aspect of the festival, Fox says, letting artists “help the public learn about the work that they do.” He added, “The high qual- ity and unique nature of the work on display has made Art in the High Desert a destina- tion for collectors, includ- ing several from the Sisters area.” Custom Design & Repairs 549-9388 The Old Mill District hosts Art in the High Desert. Fox told The Nugget that the festival has been making a deliberate effort to reach out to Sisters because the area has developed such a strong reputation as an arts community. While the artists and their work are top-tier, the bill doesn’t have to be. The show actively encourages artists to offer some work that is within reach of an art-lover who doesn’t necessarily have a big budget to work with: “Art for everyone and every budget,” as Fox describes it. In keeping with the effort to keep the free event spe- cial — and safe — Art in the High Desert does not allow dogs into the show (certified, properly identified service animals excepted). For more information visit www.artinthehighdesert.com. Year-round FIREWOOD SALES — Kindling — — — DINING & TAKE-OUT SISTERS FOREST PRODUCTS Menu at SistersSaloon.net 541-410-4509 541-549-RIBS SistersForestProducts.com until midnight every night 190 E. Cascade Ave. Ch se Y r Col s… Find Y r Fade! 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