Writing poetry supports client's mental health and well-being

We are delighted to share with you poetry from one of our clients, Brenda N.

Brenda's poetry is beautiful, and writing helps her mental health and well-being. We celebrate Brenda and the therapeutic power of the arts! Enjoy.

Two souls
eyes embrace
hearts hold
 In time and space
Eternity will find the lost divine
two souls wander lost...
and paying the cost
Almost forgotten by fates alteration,
Looking for a way to escape the insane,
Two souls searching, found a way
to be free from the pain.
A moment in time, the lost
was found, together they are bound.

- Brenda N.

Art, Writing, and Music as Positive Coping Skills

Caminar’s Expressive Arts program, which was launched in 2014, brings the therapeutic power of the arts to clients in our San Mateo County residential homes through weekly workshops. Generously funded by Sutter Health Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Foundation since 2018, the program features teaching artists Michael Collopy and Maikel Garcia.

Together, Michael Collopy, a world-renowned photographer, and Maikel Garcia, a well-known Cuban jazz musician, bring art, music, humor, and joy to clients who are experiencing and recovering from behavioral health conditions. The workshops present art, writing, and music as positive coping mechanisms, outlining how creative expression can promote long-term mental wellness.

Please enjoy these works of art from recent Expressive Arts sessions.

 Sutter Health Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Foundation Awards a $55,000 Grant for Expressive Arts in San Mateo County 

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With a generous $55,000 grant this year, Caminar will continue offering an innovative program that is a tremendous asset to clients’ mental health. Caminar is deeply grateful to the Sutter Health Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Foundation for the many years of support for Expressive Arts (EA). The EA program (led by a respected, professional photographer and an acoustic musician) serves as a powerful adjunct to clients’ mental health treatment. Participation in EA also builds community for clients, individuals now live in Caminar’s San Mateo County residential housing sites: Redwood, Eucalyptus, and Hawthorne Houses.  

Launched in 2014 through a generous grant and funded by Sutter Health Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Foundation since 2018, EA provides drop-in ‘art workshops’ and serves as a regular forum for clients to share their feelings about life changes, new emotions, and personal losses. In the setting of an EA workshop, program leaders apply trauma-informed approaches and assure client confidentiality. They set agreements with participating clients that EA will be a safe space to speak about the challenges that they are experiencing. In 2021, Caminar is adapting EA to new COVID-19 constraints and meeting goals using online formats that continue to captivate clients. We are developing videos as a new way to showcase our clients’ artwork in 2021. 

In 2021, the Sutter Health Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Foundation grant will help us to reach at least 20 clients and:  

  • Present art and writing as positive coping mechanisms, outlining how creative expression in art and writing practices can promote long-term mental wellness,

  • Enable people of all ages, including clients living with severe mental illness, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions, to be celebrated,

  • Promote the value of artistic expression as an expression of caring for others and as a strategy that helps clients regain their agency and voice. In speaking openly with others and thinking creatively, clients can identify assets to start rebuilding their lives.

Caminar is deeply honored by Sutter Health Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Foundation’s significant 2021 grant. With their generous, renewed support, Caminar will continue helping clients to make progress on their healing journey. 

Please see some recent examples of client art here.

Enjoying the Therapeutic Power of the Arts

Our Expressive Arts program continues to bring community, music, and art to clients in our Residential Houses, though they now happen virtually. Despite the virtual format, clients continue to engage in the workshops and express their thoughts and feelings through their art. Please enjoy these recent works of art.

Expressive Arts: Nutritional for the Brain

Through the pandemic, our Expressive Arts program has continued to bring art and music to clients in our residential homes. Our teaching artists, Michael Collopy and Maikel Garcia, join the groups virtually and haven’t missed a beat. 

One participant recently told us, “I like Tuesday morning Expressive Arts group a lot. Michael C. is very supportive of all of us and encourages our next steps to independence. The other Maikel plays really nice music. It is very relaxing and helps keep me peaceful and calm. Music is nutritional for the brain.”

Please enjoy this recent art created by participants in our program.

In the news: PUNCH Magazine features Our Expressive Arts Program's Michael Collopy

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We are thrilled to share this article in PUNCH Magazine about world-renowned photographer Michael Collopy, who is the teaching artist in our Expressive Arts Program.

Enjoy reading more about Michael and his photography, including how he uses the therapeutic power of art to help our clients who are in recovery from serious mental health issues. 

Wellness and Restoration Through Art

Art is restoration: the idea is to repair the damages that are inflicted in life, to make something that is fragmented
– which is what fear and anxiety do to a person – into something whole.

– Louise Bourgeois, artist

Amazing works of restorative art are created by participants in our Expressive Arts program. The program, made possible by the generous support of Mills-Peninsula Health Services, brings world-renowned photographer Michael Collopy and musician Maikel Garcia to our residential homes for weekly workshops. In the workshops, participants are encouraged to use different art media to express their feelings. Calming music, conversation, and supportive staff and students create a warm, encouraging environment for all to work on wellness while creating lovely art. 

Please enjoy this recent collection of work by a number of different artists in our program.

Expressive Arts Program Art Show at the Half Moon Bay Library

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We are delighted to partner with the Half Moon Bay Library during Mental Health Awareness Month to share our clients’ art with the community.

Over the last year, Caminar’s Expressive Arts Program has reached more than 100 San Mateo County residents in recovery from serious mental health conditions.

Through the creative process and the resulting artwork, participants express emotions that words cannot fully capture—or are too painful to utter aloud.

Five years ago, the program began in earnest with photography as the art medium. The program has evolved to include drawing, painting, adult coloring pages, and music. World-renowned photographer Michael Collopy is the Teaching Artist for the program. Along with Mr. Collopy, musician Maikel Garcia is an integral part of our Expressive Arts program. Maikel promotes emotional, mental, and social well-being through music.

Participants tell us that learning and practicing art helps them to feel less anxious and to feel calmer and more hopeful.

We invite you to enjoy these pieces of art made with great heart, which will be on display at the Half Moon Bay Library, 620 Correas Street, Half Moon Bay, from May 20 through June 3, 2019.

Photography Group Captures the Local Landscape

Our Supported Education program offers wellness and art groups in all Caminar residential programs and at our San Mateo office. These groups help engage one in learning, introduce new skills, and improve an individual's quality of life.

The photography group meets weekly to learn more about the art of photography, hone skills, and take special outings to capture the local area.

Here are some lovely photographs from recent group trips along the bay. Enjoy!

Brian's Path to Wellness

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Many of our clients may not be on the path to wellness without the support we receive from the community. We are so grateful to our donors and funders who make the life-changing work of Caminar possible.

We invite you to meet Brian, who shares his inspiring journey to wellness after multiple mental health diagnoses in this special video

In Brian’s words,

“Caminar gave me something to live for.”

An inspiring story of a young man coping with mental illness who-with the help of Caminar-is healing, finding hope, and gaining skills to thrive.

Art and Inspiration on Display at the Solano WRC

Our Solano Region's Wellness and Recovery Center (WRC) is a peer-run drop-in center for individuals with a known or suspected mental illness. Located adjacent to Caminar’s medication clinic and case management services in Vallejo, the center provides an array of services to promote wellness and ongoing recovery including education, enrichment, and support groups. 

The art group allows clients to experiment with and explore the healing power of artistic expression. The walls display vibrant and inspirational art that showcases our clients' talent and their journeys toward wellness, resilience, self-love, and self-care.

Exploring Color, Pattern, and Feelings Through Art

Clients in our Expressive Arts Program engage in the therapeutic power of the arts in our weekly workshops at our Residential Houses. Lately, the workshops have focused on exploring color and pattern while utilizing different media. As our artists create, they are able to express their thoughts and feelings through their art, rather than finding words to articulate those feelings which is often very difficult. 

Expressive Arts Art Show Showcases Caminar Artists

Artwork created by participants in our Expressive Arts Program will be on display at Philz Coffee in San Mateo through Tuesday, May 29, 2018.

A special opening night reception was held on Wednesday, May 23 and delighted all who joined us to celebrate the therapeutic power of the arts. Guests spoke with clients who shared the stories behind their art. And, they learned more about the program, which brings world-renowned photographer Michael Collopy and art therapists to Caminar’s residential programs for weekly workshops, offering our clients the chance to explore and engage in the therapeutic power of the arts to heal and change lives.

In addition, musician Maikel Garcia performed at the reception. Maikel is an integral part of our Expressive Arts program, where he promotes emotional, mental, and social well-being through music. Expressive Arts Program participants who joined us on Wednesday night enjoyed playing, singing, and dancing along with Maikel’s inspiring and unique fusion of rhythms.

We are grateful to again partner with Philz Coffee during Mental Health Awareness Month and to have this opportunity to bring art into the community.

The Expressive Arts Program is made possible by the generous support of Aroha Philanthropies, a foundation dedicated to "inspiring creative and fulfilling lives" and Mills-Peninsula Health Services. We are also grateful to General Pencil Company for the generous donation of fine art supplies.

Announcing Our 2018 Expressive Arts Art Show

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Caminar’s Expressive Arts Program brings world-renowned photographer Michael Collopy and art therapists to our residential programs for weekly workshops, offering our clients the chance to explore and engage in the therapeutic power of the arts to heal and change lives.

We are delighted to again partner with Philz Coffee this May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, to display art by our Expressive Arts Program participants at Philz Coffee in San Mateo.

The Expressive Arts Art Show will be held from Wednesday, May 23, through Tuesday, May 29. Stop by for delicious coffee and beautiful, healing art.

Please join us for a special opening night reception, which will be held on Wednesday, May 23, from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Learn more about the program from Michael Collopy and the artists, speak with the artists, learn the stories behind the art, and enjoy an evening with this talented community. In addition, musician Maikel Garcia will share his music at the reception. Maikel is an integral part of our Expressive Arts program, where promotes emotional, mental, and social well-being through music.

For more information about this year’s art show, visit our event page.
For more information on previous art shows, enjoy this blog post.

The Expressive Arts Program is made possible by the generous support of Aroha Philanthropies, a foundation dedicated to "inspiring creative and fulfilling lives" and Mills-Peninsula Health Services. We are also grateful to General Pencil Company for the generous donation of fine art supplies.

Celebrating Spring Through Art

Each week, clients in our Expressive Arts Program explore self-expression and healing through the arts. Recently, they've enjoyed looking just outside the window for inspiration for their art. We love how they celebrate color and the new season in these beautiful new creations.

Appreciating the Therapeutic Power of the Arts

Our Expressive Arts Program, which brings world-renowned photographer Michael Collopy and art therapists to Caminar’s residential programs for weekly workshops, offers our clients the opportunity to explore the therapeutic power of the arts. We delight in the weekly creations of our artists and hope you enjoy them.

Change, Hope, and Life: Best Wishes for a Happy 2018

Happy New Year! We hope your 2018 is off to a wonderful start.

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One of the many ways our supporters enhance the health and well-being of our clients is through our Expressive Arts Program. This program brings world-renowned photographer Michael Collopy and art therapists to Caminar’s residential programs for weekly workshops, offering our clients the chance to explore and engage in the therapeutic power of the arts to heal and change lives.

This butterfly, created by one of the participants, not only represents the artist’s personal journey of recovery from mental health crisis to independence, but also universally symbolizes change, hope, and life. We are delighted to share this artwork with you as an illustration of the transformation that is made possible for people in need in our community, each and every day.

Since the merger of Caminar and Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley a year ago, we have strengthened our capacity agency-wide to provide the most marginalized local individuals and families life-changing services that build hope, increase safety, and create community. At the heart of our portfolio of programs, made possible through the compassion and generosity of donors, is our enduring commitment to work alongside individuals and families to empower personal transformation and recovery.

We look forward to sharing more updates on the work our community of supporters makes possible in 2018. Best wishes for a wonderful 2018!