Connect to artist Gregory Van Maanen’s work by creating your own artwork to process trauma or express ideas about caring for your mental health by participating in Vividly: The Beauty of Consciousness, a project created by Sheboygan high school student Sara Vang.
Photo: Gregory Van Maanen, untitled (detail), c. 1983; paint on wood; 72 x 36 in. John Michael Kohler Arts Center Collection, gift of Kohler Foundation Inc.
Sara was inspired to create a project about mental health because she sees it as a crucial focus in an age of overwhelming information and limitless connection through technology. She shares that “we become lost in seas of media, and when we are lost, we fail to reach out. The purpose of this project is to counter this by reaching out to the community and encouraging connection. It offers an outlet for those who wish to share about their lives.” Sara hopes that Vividly will help us find connections we have never thought of before. Follow @projvividly on Instagram to see updates about Sara’s project. Email projvividly@gmail.com with questions.
Download the artist overview to find inspiration in the work and process of artist Gregory Van Maanen before getting started.
Processing through Creating
Step 1
Use a 5×7 – inch surface to design a two-dimensional artwork about your experience with mental health. You can use any media that can be two-dimensional, for example, paint, collage, and photography.
Step 2
Consider these questions when designing your artwork:
• How has your life been affected by mental health, either personally or through someone you know?
• How has your life affected your mental health?
• How did it make you feel?
• Are there any moments in your life that you feel fundamentally changed who you are?
Step 3
Create your art! You can be abstract, simple, whimsical, wild.
Be yourself and put your experience down on paper.
Additional Information
– View more of Gregory Van Maanan’s artworks at the Art Preserve.
– Explore mindfulness resources at Mental Health America in Sheboygan County