Considering the Visual Arts and the Autism Spectrum

This chapter explores the visual arts and the autism spectrum. Descriptions and working definitions of “visual arts” and “autism spectrum” will be presented. The four defining and observable characteristics that make the autism spectrum will be considered. The purpose of the autism spectrum coordinates increasing possibilities that need to be discussed and evaluated for each person by many people. Five disabilities that preceded the autism spectrum organization will be identified. The five disabilities have been joined together in the autism spectrum. The authors invite people identified as being on the autism spectrum to consider engaging in art activities often. Art is a joyful activity for many people. Some people who are on the autism spectrum seem to be very artistic. This observation is being studied and discussed by many professionals at this time. What are positive ways for people on the autism spectrum to express their artistic talents?

Not All Migrant Men Embrace Toxic Masculinity, Do They?

Gender identities and roles have changed over time and have reached their present meanings. In addition, the expectations and acceptance of different cultures have caused these roles to show various developments. Finally, the increase in immigration to Europe has forced these young people who grew up in other cultures and their families to learn to live in a new culture and mandatory adaptation of two cultures. The biggest problem with mixing in a new culture was that the male trait, defined as toxic masculinity and taught as a power in eastern cultures, was not accepted in this new culture. Toxic masculinity is a man proving his existence to his gender, other genders, and entire social environment through anger, destructiveness, and pressure. “CommUnity” Project aims to bring together the young people of these different cultures with art-based design thinking activities. Those will help them get to know, understand, and adapt to each other in a peaceful environment where they can discuss the problem solutions openly and do art activities together.The main expectation is that the young people who have changed with these works will influence their environment and lead to a shared society that does not experience unnecessary violence and radicalism and lives in harmony.

Stage Design as a Spatial Environment of the Performance: Definition of the Concept

The article is devoted to the definition of "stage design". On the basis of terminological analysis, the essence of the concept of "stage design" is revealed, its essential features are determined and the connection with other concepts in the context of artistic design of a theatrical production is analyzed. With the help of comparative analysis, common and different features between the concept of "scenography" and "theatrical and decorative art" were revealed. The definition is understood by us as a list of essential features of an object or phenomenon that represent the concept and verbal expression of those specific features that distinguish this concept from related to it. The study found that stage design as a type of design and art activities involves the design, construction and organization of stage space with elements of other types of design, composition and stylistic devices. Its main task is to work with the environment of human life in a conventional play space, to create an artistic image of the play, which will make the viewer an emotional impression, relevant to the issue of staging. In our opinion, the term "stage design" most accurately reflects the state of the essential and conceptual approach to the solution of scenographic design of plays in domestic directing theater, the process of creating a unique visual image due to the synthesis of symbolic means to reveal the author's concept and meaningful content.

Art Activities in Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review

Background: Outcomes of using art in therapy overlap with goals of occupational therapy with older adults in long-term care, which include improving and maintaining health and well-being through engagement in occupations. There is a lack of evidence about how art activities could complement or inform occupational therapy. Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review is to map existing literature about how art activities are used in long-term care. Methods: Six electronic databases were searched. Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria and were analyzed to identify patterns and discrepancies. Findings: The analysis suggests art activities can contribute to well-being by improving mood, promoting communication and reminiscence, and supporting the development and deepening of social relationships. Implications: Occupational therapists should consider incorporating art activities as these offer therapeutic benefits and can be adapted to individual strengths and preferred type and level of participation.

Developing Creativity Through Creative Engagement in Art Appreciation: Outcomes in Teaching Humanities

This descriptive-correlational study determined the level of creative engagement as part of humanities teaching in the outcome-based education. This focuses on the dimension of student engagement and creativity in the context of a new approach to teaching and learning primarily through the arts. This study captures student creative engagement supported by their personal reflection after the course term. There were eight (8) classes utilized with 134 students. Results showed that the level of students’ creativity in art appreciation was “high” and it was also “high” when they were grouped as to sex. Creative engagement in art appreciation was considered “highly influential” and it was “highly influential” when they were grouped as to sex. No significant difference was noted in the level of the students’ creative engagement and development of creativity. There was a moderate and positive correlation between the level of the students’ creative engagement and influence of creative engagement in art appreciation classes to their development of creativity. The most highly valued creative engagement practices of students in art appreciation are: “I have developed an appreciation for the local arts;” “I have deepened my sensitivity of myself, my community and the society,” and “Inclusion of art activities demonstrated my understanding of art appreciation.

Eco-art Activities for Older Adults: Reducing Stress and Reframing Aging

Art coupled with nature provides numerous therapeutic benefits to reduce stress and reframe aging for older adults. This article outlines five eco-art activities to use in the context of individual or family counseling. Stress and the aging process is addressed, as well as the numerous therapeutic benefits of nature for the aging family. Nature combined with art increases self-expression, social engagement, and sensory stimulation. Nature-based activities decrease stress and anxiety and recreate purpose and meaning using the metaphors that exist in nature. The proposed activities focus on themes found in nature to reduce stress and reframe aging for individuals and families.

THE ART INCULTURATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS GANJURAN AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE PEOPLE

The connection between art and religion is found in several places. The Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Ganjuran, Yogyakarta is proof of the cohesion between art and religion in Indonesia. Inculturation is the process of adapting Catholic teachings with local culture, one of which is with art. This study aims to describe the cultural unquenching that occurred in the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Ganjuran Yogyakarta and its implications on the spirituality of the people. This study uses descriptive qualitative methods with phenomenological approaches. The results showed that the inculturation that occurred resulted in a variety of art activities and art artifacts including Javanese liturgy, liturgical gamelan, Javanese architecture such as pendopo (Javanese pavilion), Javanese versions of Jesus and Mary statues and temples. The spirituality of the people is awakened with the concept of Java which is thick in its worship. Liturgical gamelan is one of the integral components in worship that makes a bond as man's sacred activity with God. The contemporary aspect can be seen from the gamelan classical rules that combine with the choir that forms a new aesthetic. It can touch the people in feeling the presence of God through local culture. The cohesiveness of the value of art and religion can stimulate people to experience the same religious and aesthetic experiences in worship.

Doing and feeling together in older age: self-worth and belonging through social creative activities

The potential for art activities to help in alleviating loneliness is explored through a focus on older women's regular attendance at creative social activities. We apply the concept of perceived emotional synchrony to understand how weekly craft group sessions enable feelings of belonging and self-worth to develop in older women. Using a multi-site six-month study of 62 women aged 70+ attending social creative activities, our multi-stage research design captures the experiences of these women through observation and narrative group discussions held weekly. Our findings show that feelings of belonging and self-worth developed over a relatively short time. In particular, social integration and identity fusion were found to occur as a result of the emotional synchrony engendered via a regular shared activity, out of the home, and requiring some challenge and creativity. We propose a virtuous cycle model to explain the value in such activities and discuss the wider implications for wellbeing in older age. Perceived emotional synchrony has not been used before to explore the mechanisms through which social creative activities form lasting benefits for older women. Our research highlights the importance of feeling at one with others in improving feelings of belonging and self-worth and indicates how a variety of social creative experiences could be designed to enable this.

The Added Value of Art for the Well-Being of Older People with Chronic Psychiatric Illnesses and Dementia Living in Long-Term Care Facilities, and on the Collaboration between Their Caregivers and Artists

This study sought to provide insight into how art activities influence the well-being of long-term care residents, and how artists and caregivers collaborate in offering these activities. In two long-term care facilities for people with dementia and one for older people with chronic psychiatric disorders, an uncontrolled pre- and post-test study was conducted using a mixed-method design. Forty-six residents participated in the study. Three art activities—(a) dance, (b) music and movement, and (c) visual arts—were studied and co-created with the residents and executed by artists and caregivers together in eight to ten weeks. The Face expression scale (FACE) was used to examine the extent to which participating in the art activity influenced resident mood. Qualitative data were collected via group discussions with artists, caregivers, residents, and an informal caregiver. The results indicated that participating in an art activity positively influenced resident mood (p < 0.000). p-values for the three art activities were: p < 0.000 for dance, p = 0.048 for music and movement, and p = 0.023 for visual arts. The qualitative data revealed that joining an art activity provided a positive effect, increased social relationships, and improved self-esteem for residents. The collaboration between artists and caregivers stimulated creativity, beauty, and learning from each other, as well as evoking emotions.