On April 18, 2018, The Arc Chorus performed their current repertoire at Spectrum for Living. The performance was in the large auditorium with over 50 individuals who attend the Spectrum day program in attendance. Fifteen individuals from The Arc participated in this special outing to continue to practice their performance etiquette and socialization skills.

The final song of the performance included “All You Need is Love”, and each person held up a letter for the phrase which was made in art therapy sessions with Gabby. This was a collaboration between music and art, with The Arc of Union County’s Opportunities program and Adult Day Programs to create the personalized artistic letters.

C R E A T I V E H A P P E N I N G S N E W S L E T T E R

S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

The mission of Sights & Sounds is to empower and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with opportunities for personal expression, creative outlet and growth. Sights & Sounds promotes access to the arts, enriches cultural understanding, and supports community integration and acceptance through the arts.

Gabby brings art therapy to The Arc by providing

opportunities for self expres s i on, social interaction, sensory integration & more.

Music Therapist Erin Heaslip, MM, NMT-F, MT-BC

Erin is a board certified music therapist who received her undergraduate degree from Ithaca College and Master’s degree from the University of Miami. She has 10 years experience working with children and adults in

Art Therapist Gabriella D'Amato, MPS, ATR-BC

Gabriella (Gabby) is a board certified Creative Arts Therapist who received her Bachelors in Art Education from Marywood University and Masters of Professional Studies from Pratt Institute. She has worked with children dealing with emotional trauma, homeless and at risk senior citizens, with inpatient psychiatric and Detox clients, & patients with delirium and other neurological disorders.

various settings, including special education, inpatient psychiatric & outpatient centers. She has also served on the New Jersey Association for Music Therapists Board as the personal relations chair from 2012-2017.

Music Therapist

Art Therapist

All You Need Is Love

P A G E 2

“Playing the piano

helps keep me from

getting upset, it

helps me keep calm

and calm my

nerves down,

that’s it.”

-Priscilla

Songs from Singing

Valentines—

From the Sounds Corner

Individuals at the Adult Day Program,

Community Support Program (CSP), and The

Arc Kohler School were involved in making

telephone calls for the Singing Valentines

fundraiser. The individuals worked on

building positive social skills and dialing

telephone numbers. The Sights & Sounds

program made over 100 calls!

As a continued fundraiser for the Sights & Sounds program, our music therapist,

Erin Heaslip and the individuals will be providing telephone calls for birthdays,

anniversaries, and special events! Do you know someone who would like a special song

delivered to them for their special day? Please email eheaslip@arcunion.org if

interested.

Priscilla has shared in the music room that “playing the piano makes me feel better.” She often picks the piano during music therapy sessions and plays her favorite songs while in music. She is able to discuss and explore her feelings with the music therapist, Erin. The music experience helps her to increase her sense of control and provides the opportunity for self-expression.

What do you like about music?

Playing the piano helps

S I G H T S & S O U N D S

All You Need is Love Let me Call You Sweetheart L-O-V-E Love Me Tender Love is All Around I Just Called to Say I Love you

T h e A r c o f U n i o n C o u n t y

Priscilla playing the piano

keep me from getting upset, it helps me keep calm and calm my nerves down, that’s it.

So, you like to use music as a coping strategy to calm down?

That is one of my

goals, so instead of

screaming and

yelling, I come to the

music room and play

the piano.

What songs do you

like to play?

Ten Little Indians,

Let Me Call you

Sweetheart, and

She’ll be Comin’

Round the Mountain.

From the Sights Corner

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Group cohesion is one of

the many art therapy goals

here at The Arc of Union

County. By gaining a sense of

cohesion, individuals are

able to create strong positive

bonds with their peers

through the use of social

skills, emotional skills, and

task work. For this artwork,

individuals from the Able

Adult Day Habilitation

Program worked

together to finish their

group piece.

First, they created

their "canvas" using

recycled paper towel rolls. Once

dry, they began to paint the

piece using various colors. When

asked how they felt while

working on a piece with their

peers their responses were;

"Fun”, “happy”, “team work”,

and “love".

The word “mandala” comes from the sacred Sanskirt word

meaning “sacred circles”. Mandala making can help with

personal insight, healing, and above all self-expression.

During this group activity, individuals had the opportunity to

work together to create a mandala on a shared surface.

Creating art on a shared surface helps increase group

cohesion and builds positive peer to peer interactions.

While creating the art, John at first only worked on the

outside of the mandala circle—straying away from not only connecting with peers but from

being a part of the group. After sometime, John slowly started working inside the circle and

while doing so began to smile. At the end of the session John was asked how it felt to move

inside the circle, to which he responded “good”.

The artists listened to

piano music while following

along with a relaxation

script about rainbows. Small groups were guided through the colors and a feeling associated with each.

Examples included "paint yellow, let it glow like the sunshine, bright and clear like daffodils", "imagine

being surrounded by green energy in the spring, green is a healthy color, you feel happy."

Imagery examples were drawn from the book titled "Taming Your Dragons" by Martha Belknap.

Support The Arc of Union County Today! www.arcunion.org/support

P A G E 4 S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

S I G H T S & S O U N D S T h e A r c o f U n i o n C o u n t y

GET IN TOUCH

For more information on our programs and

to sign up for our email list, contact Ellen de Havilland

973.315.0055

The Arc of Union County

70 Diamond Road Springfield, NJ 07081

www.arcunion.org info@arcunion.org

COMMUNITY

ADVISORS

Deborah Pomianek

The Arc of Union County

Ellen de Havilland

The Arc of Union County

Melanie Cohn

NJ Visual Arts Center

Eileen Murray

Arts Access

George Rigney

Sam Ash Music Store

Laura Ekstrand

Dreamcatcher Repertory

Theatre

Summer Arts Festival 2018 at Echo Lake FREE concerts begin at 7:30pm with yoga prior.

July 11— ‘Black Dog’ Led Zeppelin Tribute July 18— ‘5 Against 1’ Tribute to Pearl Jam July 25—’The Vinny’s’ & ‘Katfish Lucy’

Berkeley Heights FREE Summer Concerts Free concerts at 7:30-9pm at Memorial Park, with free popcorn!

July 18— ‘Infernos’ July 25— ‘Jersey Four’ August 1— ‘52nd St. Band’ August 7— ‘Beatlemania Again!’

Screen On The Green FREE Movie Series AND Hot Summer Nights FREE Concert Series Village Green, 356 Broad Street, Summit

7:30pm Dance Party, Movie at dark: July 19— ‘Early Man’ July 26— ‘Ferdinand’ August 2— ‘Monsters Inc’ August 9— ‘The Greatest Showman’

Tuesday Nights at 7pm: July 10 - Exit Row July 17 - Radio Nashville July 24 - Total Soul (*Join us at The Arc

Community Night Table) July 31 - Mahoney Brothers August 14 - Brian Kirk & The Jirks

Sam Ash Open Mic Wednesdays, 7-8:30pm Contact Sam Ash for details https://samashmusic.com/open-mic/

Brushes & Bisque 45 Broadway, Denville, NJ Prices are based on the item you choose for glazing.

Evalyn Dunn Gallery 549 S Ave W, Westfield, NJ 07090 Mostly modern works by international artists. www.evalyndunngallery.com

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey Downtown Art Festival: Arts & Cars September 16, 10am-4pm. www.artcenternj.org

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre Monologues at MONDO in Summit on Thursday evenings from July 5-July 26th. $20/ticket in advance, $25 at door. Group rates available, let them know you’re with The Arc. www.dreamcatcherrep.org

Premiere Stages at Kean University Ellis Island: Getaway to America, $15 Wednesday, July 11th, 10:30am Alice in Wonderland, $15 Wednesday, August 1st, 10:30am Brick City, $15 September 6-23, 3pm & 8pm

A play about two high school seniors in Newark, one with a disability and a basketball star, who begin a friendship in study hall and learn that things aren't always as simple as they seem.

Reeves Reed Arboretum FREE Saturday Tours at 10:30am & 1:30pm 165 Hobart Ave, Summit, NJ www.reeves-reedarboretum.org

Community Involvement! Here are some ideas to get out and experience arts & culture in our community this summer:

CHECK YOUR TOWN FOR FREE CONCERTS & MOVIES NEAR YOU!

Tunes & Talk Sensory Friendly Concert Series a Success

Eleven local artists brought their talent to the first Tunes & Talk Sensory Friendly Concert Series at The Arc of Union County. The house was filled for all nine events that were opened for free to our community. Self-advocates worked with our music therapist to learn and practice job skills, and served as Ushers at each event.

This arts program is made possible in part by a 2017 HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and in part by the Dementia Society of America.

Achieve with us