So here is my final capstone piece that I completed for my MSW program, and which I presented to a panel yesterday. The many layers of encaustic mixed media and collage represent the diverse layers of what health means to me, as well as, how the whole MSW program has fed this knowledge, the definition of health and how it will influence my practice and who I am in the world.
It was a great experience to first journal and reflect on this past 365 day journey, and then to put it together in a creative piece that was an intriguing process on the whole. Health is so much about the intersections of so many layers for me, physical, mental, social and spiritual. Using a narrative approach I layered symbols that represented these elements of a holistic approach to health. Critical to this process of health is the relationships we form and create, they sustain us, help us to find meaning and value in the world. This is what the spiritual element of my grandmother does for me, she guides my creativity often and fills spaces I find hard to name, I didn't know her as a child, she died when my mother was eight years old in a horrific train bombing in India. But her life is there in spirit and guides me. The other relationships very present in the piece are represented by the pieces that were given to me, keys and watch parts, and rusty bits are all given by friends who are present today either far or near, but have valued the connection to think of me to pass on these mixed media treasures to feed my creative muse. Thank you to these lovely friends, Jill Davey and Deborah Pryce.
Health is so much about relationships and the sense of belonging and knowing without a doubt you are loved and matter.
Capstone Piece, 18 W x 40 H inches, 2015.
