Make Yourself at Home: Home Studios as Pedagogical Practice

Pamela Whitaker; Christopher Mc Hugh

Make Yourself at Home: Home Studios as Pedagogical Practice

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Abstract

Make Yourself at Home, is a pedagogical project that distinguishes students as experts by experience in their own specific artist residency (their home). The readymades of the home environment are accessible and relatable. Rather than making something new, the surroundings of home are inherently one’s own and therefore bespoke and culturally specific. The home as studio also develops professional correspondences for art psychotherapy trainees, who consider their life materials to be relevant for reflecting upon their clinical practicums. Their use of subjectivity informs their capacity to professionally formulate alliances to the home stories of their clients.

This article also highlights sustainability through the use of found and repurposed art materials. It illustrates social inclusion through materiality, in terms of each student utilising the materials that best represent their specific identities. In this capacity the article also contributes towards UN Sustainable Development Goals related to wellbeing, reduced inequalities, and responsible consumption (United Nations, 2015). Student curated home displays are autobiographical experiences, relating to the comfort of home (Miller 2008) and a range of personal contexts, memories and associations. As an expression of responsible consumption and production, making with belongings reduces dependence on bought materials and the potential of excess waste.

Purchased art materials are prevalent and persuasive within art education and add to the burden of both student financial expense and unnecessary consumption. Art production, with materials that align with a student’s identity choices, enhance inclusion by supporting a learner’s representation. Personalised materials can be found at home that support a form of material equity—each student accessing what expresses their best interests. In this model, the educator doesn’t assign the materials of use, but rather encourages learners to find their creative resources with what they already possess

Original language	English
Journal	Makings: A Journal Researching the Creative Industries
Volume	4
Issue number	1
Early online date	19 Feb 2023
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 19 Feb 2023

Bibliographical note

Pamela Whitaker is a lecturer in art psychotherapy at the Belfast School of Art, Ulster University. She encourages the curation of personal possessions as both a pedagogical and therapeutic approach to creating with what is at hand. She produces publications and events which endorse art therapy within festivals, outdoor environments and cultural venues as a form of public and engaged practice. She also facilitates creative health initiatives within galleries and museums and encourages the art of gatherings within community gardens.

Dr Christopher McHugh is Lecturer in Ceramics and Global Engagement Lead at Belfast School of Art, Ulster University, UK. His practice-led ceramics research explores the relationship between making and wellbeing, often focusing on archives, museum collections and communities.

Keywords

Art and Design Pedagogy
Material Culture
Art Therapy Pedagogy
Art Therapy and Environment
Ceramic Art
Art and Design Higher Education

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

Whitaker-and-McHugh-2023Final published version, 1.17 MB

Cite this

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abstract = "Make Yourself at Home, is a pedagogical project that distinguishes students as experts by experience in their own specific artist residency (their home). The readymades of the home environment are accessible and relatable. Rather than making something new, the surroundings of home are inherently one{\textquoteright}s own and therefore bespoke and culturally specific. The home as studio also develops professional correspondences for art psychotherapy trainees, who consider their life materials to be relevant for reflecting upon their clinical practicums. Their use of subjectivity informs their capacity to professionally formulate alliances to the home stories of their clients.This article also highlights sustainability through the use of found and repurposed art materials. It illustrates social inclusion through materiality, in terms of each student utilising the materials that best represent their specific identities. In this capacity the article also contributes towards UN Sustainable Development Goals related to wellbeing, reduced inequalities, and responsible consumption (United Nations, 2015). Student curated home displays are autobiographical experiences, relating to the comfort of home (Miller 2008) and a range of personal contexts, memories and associations. As an expression of responsible consumption and production, making with belongings reduces dependence on bought materials and the potential of excess waste.Purchased art materials are prevalent and persuasive within art education and add to the burden of both student financial expense and unnecessary consumption. Art production, with materials that align with a student{\textquoteright}s identity choices, enhance inclusion by supporting a learner{\textquoteright}s representation. Personalised materials can be found at home that support a form of material equity—each student accessing what expresses their best interests. In this model, the educator doesn{\textquoteright}t assign the materials of use, but rather encourages learners to find their creative resources with what they already possess",

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KW - Art and Design Pedagogy

KW - Material Culture

KW - Art Therapy Pedagogy

KW - Art Therapy and Environment

KW - Ceramic Art

KW - Art and Design Higher Education

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M3 - Article

SN - 2752-3861

VL - 4

JO - Makings: A Journal Researching the Creative Industries

JF - Makings: A Journal Researching the Creative Industries

IS - 1

ER -

Make Yourself at Home: Home Studios as Pedagogical Practice

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

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