This is a collection of a few of the client-based art experiences I have conducted and assisted. All images are used with permission.

1. Client and Professional
Experience Portfolio
Hope Dangler
2015

2. “Safe Place Canopy”
HOPE Community Center
Adrian, Michigan
December 2014

7. August 2014 was the beginning of a new experience that would change my life. I participated in an internship at
a local community center for adults with cognitive impairments. Each week, my fellow interns and I created art
with members to form bonds and enjoy a safe, creative place. We designed simple projects that helped unleash
creativity and promote personal individualism and strength. By December, we had formed strong bonds with the
members and we hated to plan for the fnal project, which we called “termination.” I took the position of team
leader for this project and outlined an elaborate plan to create a permanent installation. We all decided the
project needed to be our most successful one yet, utilizing what we had learned the members did and did not
like about some art media. After deep consideration, the perfect project was conceived. The plan was to hang a
fabric canopy from the ceiling and to create decorations with festive, member-made artwork. I made individual
plans for each intern regarding the steps that needed completed for a successful project. With this instruction,
each intern completed their portion of the work and helped create the hanging canopy and collect the
appropriate supplies for the decorations. During termination, we assisted the clients with creating coffee flter
snowfakes, writing inspirational quotes on small cards, and painting ornaments. The projects had the members
busy, giggling with one another, and making memories. The canopy was designed to give the clients a safe
place to relax and calm down. After all was assembled, the members took turns walking into the canopy and
reading the inspirational cards and looking at the decorations. We left feeling fulflled and knew we had
impacted their lives as much as the members had impacted ours. A week later, I ran into a member outside of the
community center. She immediately hugged me and thanked me for inspiring her and her friends, and told me
the canopy was used daily for games, quiet time, and leaving inspirational quotes to friends and staff. This is the
moment I knew I needed to be a leader while introducing people to creativity and the use of the arts to express
themselves.

8. “Pom Pom Painting”
Montessori Children's House of Lenawee
Adrian, Michigan
February 2015

11. These projects were created by 4 to 6 year olds. Children love to get messy, and paint is the best
messy messy media I've found. These small canvases were created in spirit of Valentine's Day, but
they were a test for fne motor ability and color choice. Each child is unique selected different types
of pom poms, sizes, color of paint, and used a different painting technique. Some dotted the paint,
others smeared it. Each child was given the same choices of paint colors, but each canvas is much
different from the next. The children explored the combination of colors along with the use of
white space and color.
Working with children is much different than most populations. They have shorter attention spans,
less motor ability, and less experience with communication and vocabulary than the average
population. By learning to work with children, I feel that I can work with any population. Designing
projects for children never end up how you plan them. Each child shows his or her personal
experience through their art, even if they can't share it vocally yet.

12. “Pinch Pots”
Adult Transition Support Services
Adrian, Michigan
March 2015

16. These projects were created by young adults and adolescents with documented mental disorders.
The students typically work in a ranch-style house on living skills and procuring hobbies. A few
students were transported to the Adrian College Art Department where they worked with
undergraduate students and socialized. Instructions were given on how to create a pinch pot;
additional tools and colored slip demonstrations were given later.
The students were asked to think about what types of items they could put in their bowls. Most
agreed that small items, like loose change, would be best. Some students made pots to give to
close friends or family members. After a pizza break, students created a second one. We asked
each student to try a new tool that they hadn't used on the frst bowl. We provided stamps, colored
slip, wooden tools, and metal tools. The faculty from LISD were helpful, but encouraged the
students to create their own projects.
Clay is manipulative and can be used for both creation and destruction. Creation works best when
a client needs support; the clay is a metaphor for structure and stability. Destruction works best for
built-up anger and for a healthy release of agitation. Both can be used in a setting. In particular, this
group only needed creation in order to establish a sense of stability and mastery. The students
learned a new skill while improving their social skills.

17. Projects from
Catherine Cobb Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault
Shelter
Adrian, Michigan
September-December 2015