Our Artist Mentorship Program
We know the power of art and connection. We understand that a traumatic event that led to a neurological disruption has reshaped your world. We have experienced art becoming part of our lives as we heal. It has felt unfamiliar and natural at the same time. We know that calling yourself an Artist might feel odd especially if you were not making art before your diagnosis. We offer the Artist Mentorship Program as a resource for you to expand your art practice, skills, and knowledge.
Testimonial
Testimonial by Karen; photographed with log cabin quilting inspired by her neuro-disruption
Photo courtesy of: Susan Wolfe
“I was feeling pretty isolated at that time, so it was great to connect with another artist.”
“I had a vague idea about using quilting as an art form to show my experience and other ideas rattling around about built structures and landworks. I have done quilting, but the others felt purely imaginary and out of reach. The Artist Mentorship helped me to see that these could be a continuum of work and that whether or not they physically manifested, they were an important part of my thinking process and could be phases of one project rather than either/or choices. This was a real revelation for me and helped me with my feelings of overwhelm.”
“The Artist Mentorship helped me to see that this process can be nonlinear and unfold at its own pace. This is critical information for me to take any pressure off myself as I move forward.”
“I really liked our process, which was handled over Zoom, and especially the printed documents the Artist Mentorship sent after the sessions with takeaways and affirmations.”
“I think the mentorship is a great opportunity for anyone who has had a neuro-disruption and wants to explore how to express their experience and feelings through any type of art.”
“I’m very grateful for the mentorship opportunity and I have moved further into recovery because of it.”
More of Karen’s story:
I developed a spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak in the Spring of 2024. The leak ultimately led to fainting, hitting my head, and a brain bleed, along with a month in the hospital. Thankfully, the leak was located and fixed, and my healing journey as a TBI patient began in late August.
I was browsing TBI resources and came across the Neuro’s page. I am both a healthcare provider (now retired) and an artist, so I was intrigued. I was still early in my recovery, but I impulsively applied for the mentorship. I was beginning to have a feeling that I wanted to create some art about my experience, specifically the five days I “lost” during the brain bleed. I started my Artist Mentorship with The Neuro in the winter of 2024/25.
We talked a lot about documenting both the process of the artwork and my daily health and response to the brain injury, especially as memory issues can be a part of the recovery. I’ll admit I wish I had started even sooner, but I am now keeping a daily mini-journal of my mood and energy as well as documenting the progression of my art through photos, drawings, paper models, and now the initial phases of the fabric construction.
This head injury effectively ended my career as a Nurse Practitioner in a high-pressure environment. The mentorship helped me envision a new identity primarily focused on being an artist.
My ongoing affirmations are I AM an artist. I am part of a process that is unfolding.
You may, or may not call yourself an artist.
We understand this.
We are here to support your creative exploration.
art·ist
a person who practices any of the creative arts
cre·a·tive arts
anything utilizing imagination to express an idea or emotion through a medium such as paint, writing, movement, dance, music, film, theatre, photography, or sculpture.
men·tor·ship
Mentoring is a reciprocal learning relationship which a mentor and mentee agree to a partnership, where they work collaboratively toward the achievement of mutually-defined goals that will develop a mentee's skills, abilities, knowledge, and/or thinking.
The True Definition of Mentoring. (n.d.). gsvu.edu. https://www.gvsu.edu/cms4/asset/4E1EDE14-CCD7-E36A-C1461EF14C472362/the_true_definition_of_mentoring_transcript.pd
Who is this for?
If you have been diagnosed with a neurological disruption as a result of a health issue or event
If you started an art practice during your healing process
If you are art-curious after your neuro-disruption and don’t know where to start
If you are committed to learning more about your medium (painting, writing, collage, textile art, sculpting, etc.) and would like to do this without taking classes
If you love the idea of an Artist Residency but want to build up to that
If you love the idea of the Artist Residency but it’s not lining up right now
How does an Artist Mentorship work?
The Artist sets an intention: What do I want to learn during this time?
The Artist selects the Mentor based on what you want to learn
There is an Introduction Call between the Artist and Mentor
Both the Artist and the Mentor commit to 6 thirty-minute sessions to be completed within 3 months
The Artist and Mentor co-create the scheduling process and self-manage the commitment
The Mentor provides the Artist Mentee with a PDF recap after each session supporting the aspect of this program that forms new practices, or seeds ideas and the neurogenesis process
FAQs
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1. Click the "Apply Here" button at the top of this page.
2. Pay the application fee.
3. We set up a Zoom to discuss the mentorship in more detail. We cover the questions in the application form and will answer any questions you have.
4. Once accepted, we coordinate a meeting with your Mentor.
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This is perfect. We understand that many of us have spent our lives not identifying as an Artist, even though we create. We welcome you. This is a safe place to learn and explore.
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Mentors will listen, and guide in the spirit of the Artist learning new skills. The mentor will answer questions and encourage the Artist to explore their practice.
We provide a PDF after each session for your reference of our time together.
We always ask you:
What was the biggest AHA moment of this call?
What do you want to tell yourself between session? Tthis is an “I am…” affirmation.)
What do you want to work on between sessions? This is something achievable and simple, and it has proven to be a point of inspiration.
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This virtual program is designed to reach more people than the Artist Residency and support people where they are in their healing process.
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Yes. You will want to set up your space for the calls. This will be discussed during the Introduction Call.
You will share your work with the Mentor. This process is for the Artist. If it is helpful for you to the Mentor's work, please let them know.
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The Artist Mentorship Program is a great way to explore your art practice.
You cannot be in both programs at once.
You can apply to attend the Artist Residency 3 months after your Artist Mentorship program is complete.
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Yes.
Application fees for Residency & Mentorship programs are $25.
We ask the Artist to contribute $300 to participate in the Artist Mentorship Program. This fee covers part of our operating costs. We rely on donors and community members to fund the additional operating costs of this program.
If you are thriving and want to pay a mentorship forward, there are people who would benefit from this loop of generosity and scholarship. Talk to us about this.
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Yes. We want to make this as accessible as possible.
We encourage you to apply and set the intention to attend.
We address financial limitations for the Artist Mentorship program during our post-application call.
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The short answer is: No. We ask for a three-month integration period before re-enrolling in the Artist Mentorship Program.
The longer answer is: Once an Artist has completed the six-Mentor sessions, there is a three-month integration period for the Artist. After that period, you are welcome to re-apply to the Mentorship program with a new intention for what you will explore or want to learn.