CASSA Arts Workshop 2020 -- 2021
 
 
 
The CASSA Arts Workshop under the direction of Ruth Stenstrom, ATR-BC, is in its 32nd 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, and two George Washington University graduate program art therapy interns -- Haley Hasen and Alice Yun. Since the Coronavirus pandemic hit the Washington, DC area in March 2020, Clean & Sober Streets has adapted its program to remain open as a safe environment by working individually and with smaller groups of participants. In addition to its work with substance abuse treatment support, the arts program has provided opportunities to help for participants to deal with the additional stress and anxiety provoked by this pubic health crisis. CASSA Arts Workshop Services Along with therapeutic art groups , our Open Art Studio groups for men and women provide instruction and opportunities for work with fused glass and other jewelry making projects, painting on canvas, drawing, mixed media projects, fiber arts, sculpture, computer music composition, digital arts and photography. Recently the program expanded with the creation of an additional large studio with six work tables, shelving and door-sized mounting panels for acrylic painting on large pieces of paper. This serves as an area for participants to work in small groups and individually at their own pace on larger long term projects. such as seen below. In May, 2021 GWU art therapy intern Alice Yun received funding from GWU Upstart for a partnership with us to provide for painting workshops and Relapse Prevention Art Toolkits (RPAK} to be given to participants so that they may continue with either drawing or painting art projects post-treatment. Her project also provides an internet forum for them to share their fine artworks and ideas.

Recent workshop Artwork

 
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.

We would also like to thank the following for their generous donations and in kind contributions of fused glass, art books, art supplies and materials:


Paula J Bryan of Arlington, VA 

Mia Choumenkovitch of Washington, DC

Lorton Art Program of Washington, DC

The Weisser Glass Studio in Kensington, MD Peter Goulet of Kansas City, Missouri

Rachael Rice of Kensington, MD

Nina Koltnow Art Studio in Wheaton, MD

Denzil Spicer of Washington, DC

Shana Hofstetter  of Washington, DC

Erika Cleveland of Washington, DC

Soozie Brendler of Rockville, MD

Hank Leland  of Washington, DC

Julia Lightfoot of Washington, DC

Fran Thompson, Mayo, MD

“ Lady in Red” Drawing on Paper by Anthony L.  

“Music,” an acrylic painting on paper by Jasmine C.

Mountainscape painted in Acrylic on Canvas (by Angelo B & Anthony L.

A special sock puppet workshop helped to bring in the holiday spirit.  Puppet by Victor J

Crochet Blanket by Michelle B

Acrylic & Pencil Double Portrait on Canvas by Angelo B

Crochet Hat by Louraca P

“Fan Club” , Mixed Media on Paper by Lorenzo B

“Love” (Above) by Nuh  A,  MIchael C,  Garret C, José D, Robert H , Bakari N, Kinshasa R, Lewis W with Intern Alice Yun

  Mixed Media on Canvas

CSS Staff Member George Vincent, a recent victim of the pandemic, Drawing on Paper by Anthony L.