Title: Art Under Restriction: Exploring Autonomy and Creativity
Project Summary:
The Dementia Mitt Art Project is a six-hour live-streamed performance art piece designed to explore the intersection of creativity, restriction, and control. By wearing restrictive Posey mitts, commonly used in nursing homes to prevent individuals from using their hands, the artist attempts to create meaningful art under physical constraints. These mitts, along with additional symbolic elements like tethers and a gait belt, emphasize the challenges of autonomy and dignity faced by individuals living in controlled or care-giving environments.
Through this performance, the project seeks to foster empathy, spark dialogue about the ethics of restrictive care, and highlight the resilience of the human spirit when faced with limitations. At its heart, the project is a testament to the struggle and beauty of adapting to constraints, both physical and emotional, while striving to express oneself creatively.
Objectives:
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Raise Awareness:
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Highlight the use of restrictive devices in care-giving settings and their impact on autonomy and dignity.
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Promote dialogue about ethical care practices and alternatives.
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Explore Themes of Restriction and Control:
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Use physical limitations as a metaphor for external control and the loss of independence.
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Examine how restriction shapes the creative process and emotional experience.
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Focus on Artistic Adaptation:
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Demonstrate the ability to adapt and create within boundaries, turning restriction into an integral part of the art.
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Engage the Audience:
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Invite viewers to reflect on their role as influencers of the project, mirroring the external forces that shape others’ lives.
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Encourage empathy and thoughtful participation in shaping the narrative of restriction and resilience.
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Conceptual Framework:
This project draws parallels between the physical act of creating art under restriction and the lived experiences of individuals who face reduced autonomy due to age, illness, or care-giving environments. By embodying this struggle through art, the project serves as a visual and emotional representation of resilience, adaptation, and the human capacity to find beauty in adversity.
The additional elements, such as tethers and the gait belt, represent external forces of control, while the mitts symbolize physical and emotional limitations. The interplay between these elements creates a layered narrative about dependence, dignity, and the tension between restriction and freedom.
Structure of the Performance:
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Introduction:
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Educational context about restrictive devices and care-giving environments.
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Explanation of the project’s purpose and symbolic elements.
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Art Creation:
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The artist attempts various art forms (e.g., painting, sculpting, collage) while wearing the mitts and being subject to tethered restrictions.
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Periodic audience interaction influences tether adjustments or artistic themes, moderated to maintain focus on the art.
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Reflection and Engagement:
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The artist narrates their thoughts, challenges, and emotional journey throughout the process.
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The audience is encouraged to reflect on their role as external influencers.
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Conclusion:
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Removal of the mitts and a reflective discussion about the experience.
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Presentation of the completed artworks as a testament to the creative journey under constraint.
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Key Themes:
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Autonomy and Control: Examining the tension between independence and external influence.
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Adaptation and Resilience: Highlighting the human capacity to adapt and create despite limitations.
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Empathy and Awareness: Encouraging viewers to consider the experiences of individuals in care-giving environments.
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The Role of Art: Using creative expression as a means of exploring and transcending restriction.
Anticipated Outcomes:
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Completed Artworks:
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A series of visual pieces created under restriction, symbolizing the process and challenges of adaptation.
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Audience Impact:
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Increased awareness and empathy for individuals who face physical and emotional limitations.
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Engagement in conversations about autonomy, dignity, and ethical care-giving.
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Reflection and Dialogue:
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Insights into the artist’s experience and its parallels with real-world challenges of restriction and control.
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