MEDIA: Mixed Media, Found Objects, Paint, Graphic Design
Being a kid-at-heart, I love finding ways to showcase the child-centric element of the CRATE Brand; finding unique and interesting ways to create engaging material thoughtful of the age demographic of the child.
Wanting the material to reflect the craft I use in my art therapy practice, the easel and chalkboard display intentionally hand-drawn signage reminiscent of child-style art. I always consider the type of material - is it functional, can it be reused, repurposed, or easily recycled?
Dimensions: Easel/Chalkboard Sign - 24 in W x 44 in H; CRATE Box Display - 24 in W x 72 in H
Worry Monster an art activation at Market Collective. Offering kids (and kids-at-heart) an opportunity to craft their own worry monster to eat their worries. The Giant Monster also ate the audiences’ worries.
This interactive experience aimed to warm the hearts of the Calgary community and give participants goosebumps (the good kind).
Our Friends Of Chinook Blast activation—The Warm Fuzzy Challenge—was a free, family-friendly experience, focusing on warm-hearted ways to engage the five senses and improve mental health.
We encouraged participants to complete five Warm Fuzzy Challenges scattered within the parameters of Chinook Blast—think scavenger hunt with a mindful twist. This self-driven activity enabled participants to start from one of five entry points and engage in up to five Warm Fuzzy challenges.
Read the full Warm Fuzzy Challenge Experience Report.
This event encouraged kids (& kids-at-heart) to go on a quest to map out how big emotions can bubble to the surface and explore creative techniques to navigate those emotions.
The Bug Hunt Beakerhead activation, was structured like a scavenger hunt, encouraging participants to find the Bug Hunt printed sandwich boards strategically placed at key locations within the Beakerhead event.
The Bug Hunt headquarters was a unique stop in the scavenger hunt with art supplies for participants to create functional art that incorporates STEAM components to expand their emotional competence. This FREE, kid-friendly concept required no artistic skills, just a willingness to get creative and learn body calming techniques.
Read the full BUG HUNT, FINAL REPORT.
Glimmers (of Light) was a means to observe an unfamiliar phenomenon: tiny moments of goodness captured as shadows of various colours—yellow, magenta, cyan, red, green, blue, and black. The Nigh L!ight art activation shed light on a self regulation technique designed to enhance emotional well-being through craft and play. The opposite of triggers are glimmers; defined as “small moments when our biology is in a place of connection or regulation, which cues our nervous system to feel safe or calm” (Moniuszko, 2022). The hands-on art activation was an opportunity to get crafty, delve into a magical world, embrace a child-like sense of wonder and create a glimmer of your own, by incorporating STEAM components. This FREE, kid-friendly concept required no artistic skills, just a willingness to get creative and enhance your emotional wellness by playing with coloured shadows.
A FREE art activity for kids and kids-at-heart to create a mini world that brings them joy or peace. With the objective of capturing your glimmers, aka micro-moments of happiness.
Don’t flurry, this event helped Calgarians unwind this winter by playing a game designed to melt away stress. Let It Blow used bingo as a framework to encourage the Calgary community to try self-soothing techniques to keep cool, calm, and collected.
Participants grabbed a Brrr-Bingo game card at one of the participating businesses to partake in the FREE, family-friendly Chinook Blast event. They braved the cold and stopped by CRATE's pop-up booth to craft a Just Brrr-Breathe critter to discover how a blast of air can help you chill out.
Read the full report here.