Kerri and Carla are teaming up and taking on 'imposter syndrome' in this fire side exposé.
Lets de-pathologise ‘imposter syndrome’ together, and expose it as a story that serves a particular system of power – the “internalised patriarchy”.
Ever wonder why so many Creative Arts Therapists experience “imposter syndrome” in our work?
We’ve all heard of the “inner critic” – but what if our “inner critic” is actually an “internalised critic”, and the voice of systems designed to perpetuate power structures of the status quo?
In this workshop, you can expect to do some art to get to know the role of your own “internalised critic” better, and then reflect on new and emerging roles; wise, strong and compassionate parts of self that are progressive, supportive, life enhancing and relevant to your current life context.
Together, we will stitch our strengths into dolls around the fire, sewing new stories into being, stories in which we are connected to our power, stories that challenge the politics of power through the power of practice.
Your Facilitators : Kerri and Carla
Kerri and Carla are both Creative Arts Therapists who share a love of women’s ways of knowing, and craft as creative practices for restoring health and wellbeing.
Kerri (she/her) has ancestry that is English, Irish, Scottish and Chinese, and Carla (she/her) has English and Dutch ancestors.
Our collaboration in bringing this workshop to the 2023 Creative Mental Health Forum draws on both our early working lives in the fashion and textile industries, and our appreciation for the craft of handwork, stitching and making.
Practices of sitting in circle as women, stitching and sharing stories, run deeply through women’s work in many diverse cultural contexts, and may connect with participant’s own Cultural practices in a variety of ways.
We hope that by sharing and celebrating women’s ways of knowing, we can help to empower ourselves and others in claiming knowledges and practices that resist the dominant voices of patriarchal systems that can make us feel inadequate, and, instead, promote agency, choice and wellbeing.
Kerri Weymouth
Kerri is a contemporary multidisciplinary artist and qualified art therapist who holds a Master’s in Therapeutic Arts Practice. She is inspired by her connection to the Australian Bush and regional communities. Kerri lives and works in Wiradjuri Country in the small community of Coleambally near the Murumbidgee River.
Kerri has extensive experience in arts based community work. She is an active member of “MAKE”, the “Murrumbidgee Arts Kinship Enterprise”, and she has recently established the Kerri Weymouth Studio in a former State Bank building in Coleambally. The studio is home to an art gallery, art therapy space, dedicated sand tray therapy room and Kerry’s own arts practice.
Kerri’s work spans many mediums such as textiles, printing, acrylics, sculptural work with found objects and eco-dyed works with strong sense of place. Kerri has her artwork displayed in many private and corporate collections, nationally and abroad. Her chosen medium depends on the ideas she is exploring at the time, because of her love to experiment she often favours mixed media.
Early inspiration comes from creative family members including years spent in the 1980’s fashion world of haute couture, working from the fashion house of John Claringbold and Ross Weymouth in Melbourne’s famous Nicholas Building in Swanston Street. Which is renowned as a unique creative hub for creative industries.
Those years working with Claringbold and Weymouth have imbedded colour, design and attention to detail into her ceative work and many aspects of her life. Hand sewing zips, linings, hems plus the repetitive work of beading. Claringbold once said ”Kerri was the only person he had to tell to stop beading.”, such was the love of her craft.
“These histories from family with love and respect formed, brings a long growing emergence with a strong sense of being and unique connection, that continues to grow creatively and embodies her creative work to this day and moving forward”.
About Carla
Dr Carla van Laar is a Creative Arts Therapist living and working in Boon Wurrung country, South-Eastern Australia. She brings decades of experience working with people and the arts for well-being in community, justice, health, education and private practice contexts.
Interestingly, in the 1980s, while Kerri was working with her haute coutre Uncle Ross Weymouth in his Flinders Lane workshop, Carla was working just down the lane as a milliner with the young designer Catherine Manuell.
Carla is bringing her nostalgia for sitting in a sewing circle of women along to this workshop, as well as a good dose of fire energy.
WE WELCOME
CREATIVE THERAPISTS,
ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
AND EDUCATORS WHO:
want to learn more about creative mental health,
be inspired by holistic and diverse workshops and presenters,
and “refill your well” with time in a beautiful nurturing environment and space for self care.
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