From Art to Iron
May 2023
From Art to Iron
It’s events like this one that make us fall in love with TRU (correction: fall even more in love with TRU). The Cog and Art Therapists in our TRU department are very passionate about encouraging the clients to discover their inner artists and to showcase those artists to the world. The keyword there is showcase – it’s not just about the clients creating art, but presenting that art to others in order to build a sense of pride and self-confidence in their abilities.
Here’s how the Art to Iron event worked – the event was held during a Fun Friday where clients were able to sell handmade items for profit – jewelry, artwork, custom tumblers, and hand crochet items. Now, if we were a normal rehab facility, that would be more than enough for an event – but we left normal in the dust a long time ago. No matter how minimally, we always look for ways to elevate and enhance everything we touch, create, and imagine.
For this sale, in addition to the handmade items, we took the artwork from a select group of clients and converted their art into a large collection of iron-on pieces. The art menu and instructions were displayed as follows (see right–>)
From Art to Iron Instructions:
- Pick your iron-on image.
- Choose your fabric.
- See a staff to complete your custom iron-on order.
The Art to Iron retail items had their own table display where both clients and staff could purchase their favorite image. Next, the buyer had the option of applying that artwork to their own item from home OR they could purchase a blank t-shirt or tote bag from the table. Stephanie, one of our Art Therapists, brought in sweatshirts, button-ups, and blouses from the local Goodwill which were also available to purchase.
Still, that didn’t stop the staff from bringing in even more custom items – shoes, jackets, bags, shirts, the art found it’s way onto every kind of accessory by the end of the day. All orders were made on site and no orders were taken ahead of time; we’re excited to report that most of the iron-on art was sold out by the end of the event. The sale was so popular that TRU is already planning a follow-up event for this upcoming Fall season.
This world is but a canvas to our imagination.
Henry David Thoreau
We want to emphasize that every purchase of both the handmade items and the iron-on art went directly into that individual client’s fund. This was important for the clients for a few reasons – number one, money! The clients use their money for all sorts of things – banking it for future community outings, saving up for a new video game, or even having extra money to splurge on a take-out dinner during the weekends. Putting aside the practical, there are very few experiences in one’s life like creating art and then seeing someone buy it with their own hard earned money.
Bryna, one of the client artists selected for the sale, was in disbelief that so many people wanted to purchase her art and turn it into clothing. That experience has dramatically altered her perspective on her own creations and artistic abilities, and she now looks forward to her art sessions more than any of her other therapies (aside from her physical therapy, she notes). It makes sense, though, that when an event begins from Imagination to Art to Iron, everybody celebrates – and leaves the building a little more fashionable than when they entered.
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