CASSA Arts Workshop 2019-2020
 
 
The CASSA Arts Workshop under the direction of Ruth Stenstrom, ATR-BC, is completing its 31st year of providing arts services for participants of Clean & Sober Streets. This year the Workshop has been assisted by C&SS Clinical Director Nisha Tracy, LPC,ATR, recent GWU Art therapy graduate Kelly Jacobs and three George Washington University graduate art therapy interns -- Meg McMurdy, Michelle Miott and Linnea Jones. During the Coronavirus pandemic that hit the Washington, DC area in March 2020, Clean & Sober Streets has remained open mainly working with individually and with a smaller group of long-term residents. We have also worked together to create three murals. In August participants completed a large mural in the public meeting area of a recovery garden under the coordination of Michelle Miott and Meg McMurdy. Angela B., Peggy J., Melissa I. and Bessané W. have a designed a landscape for the Women’s area depicting a variety of shoes and a wheelchair on a road to recovery, aiming for a peaceful landscape featuring hope and spirituality as symbolized by a dove in the sky above. (Pictured on Right) In a similar vein Gary W. painted a bridge and steps to a joyful community of recovery in a cityscape. The mural which is located outside the library area of the program. (Pictured Below) Before the pandemic participants had the option to participate in biweekly trips to local museums and arts spaces. So far this year we have visited exhibits at the National Gallery of Art East and West Wings, the American Indian Museum, the Hirshhorn Gallery of Art, the Botanical Garden, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Participants work individually and in groups in a variety of drawing and painting, mixed media, puppets, fused glass and jewelry media. Examples of fine artwork from our open studio program are shown below.

Recent workshop Artwork

 



We would like to thank Peter Goulet of Kansas City, Missouri, the Weisser Glass Studio in Kensington, MD;  Nina Koltnow Art Studio in MD; and Hank Leland  for their generous donations  and in kind contributions of fused glass  and other art supplies.

Sock Puppets Workshop

Mixed Media Drawing on Paper by Lewis B


Mixed Media Pendant and Bracelet by Daniel M

Fused Glass Pendant before firing in Kiln by Eric D

Color Pencil on Paper by Rickey S

Women’s Area Mural in Progress


Acrylic on Canvas by Dwayne W

The CASSA Arts Workshop is funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Mural In Clean & Sober Streets Public Meeting Room completed in August

Under the Direction of Michelle Miott assisted by Meg McMurdy, Charles F, Thomasina R, Angela B, Linnea Jones, Torrie W and Anthony G.