Virtual Reality meets Art Therapy

October is busy month and I'm super excited to share about an upcoming Virtual Reality + Art Therapy collaboration I've been working on with Nested Realities and Georges River Libraries.

Drawing the breath in Virtual Reality

The image on the left shows me wearing the Oculus headset using the Tilt Brush app to make marks in response to my breath in a 3D virtual space. The experience at first is a little strange; I can see the room as it is in front of me but when I look down at my hands I'm holding hand pieces which have digital palette where I can select different colours palette and brush strokes styles. I can literally start drawing in the air around me, no one can see the world I am creating expect for me. I can interact with the marks; move amongst them. It's a bit of magic I'd say...

And you are invited to have a go to! This workshops uses Virtual Reality art applications and art therapy to explore grounding through movement, rhythm and visualizing the breath. The workshops are part of Georges River Libraries efforts to raise awareness for Mental Health Awareness Month. The workshops will be hosted at Hurstville Library in the MediaLab.

We'll also have a waiting room where you can warm up prior to the workshop with Bilateral Drawing; which in fact what inspired the workshop! Oh and did I mention the workshop is FREE.

What is Bilateral Drawing?

Bilateral drawing is an Art Therapy technique that is really great for regulating our nervous system. And it's a simple practice, we simply use both of our hands to simultaneously create continuous marks on the page. We're not drawing a picture; we're using the movement of our body to create and express our current inner energy states through intuitive mark making. This in turn stimulates both sides of the brain and creates an alternating internal rhythm which can help create a sense of inner calm.

Try Bilateral Drawing! Below is a guided video!

Bilateral drawing is a full body experience. We can focus on different objects such as the breath, how our body moves, sounds we can hear, the exture we can feel and visually how we respond to the marks we are making. In this way, bilateral drawing can also be a mindfulness practice as it provides an opportunity to be fully embodied and engaged in our present experience through connecting to our senses.

Links to register for workshops below 👇

🥽VR & Art Therapy Workshop - 10th October - Hurstville Library

🥽VR & Art Therapy Workshop - 11th October - Hurstville Library

🥽VR & Art Therapy Workshop - 12th October - Hurstville Library