Beth Mount Resume

The purpose of a Spirit Keeper project is to clarify the collective wisdom and guiding values of an organization through the participation of as many people as possible in the development of guiding themes, composition of artwork that expresses those themes, and stories that illustrate those themes. The final product is a work of fabric art for the agency that can be reproduced and used in many ways to keep the values and the spirit of the organization alive. Group members of a Spirit Keeper project collectively create an art quilt and an accompanying written narrative that communicates to each other, and the larger community, the values and experiences embedded in the work. The quilt expresses themes related to the work of a collective through the creation of individual "story squares" which are woven into a coherent whole. Members collaborate with colleagues to create squares that use visual images to express the themes, and written narratives that illuminate the stories. Participants are guided through every step of the process by a facilitator, and no quilting, sewing, writing or other artistic experience is necessary to be involved. The story squares are actually fabric collages that participants assemble. The facilitator of the project provides the technical help and materials, and assembles, designs, and finishes the quilt using the squares, drawings, and input of the participants. The facilitator creates a space in which people speak from the heart about their experience and what really matters to them. This individual wisdom is transformed into collective wisdom, which is grounded and expressed through symbols, metaphor, and story. Through the unified finished quilt, the facilitator seeks to bring the power of the collective experience into some sort of order and coherence that reflects shared wisdom. The following four Spirit Keeper Projects provide examples of the final product of the process, as well as other spin-off materials that keep the message and vision of the project going. While the methodology and the facilitation of each project varies, all emerge from the four-part general framework outlined below in the General Description. JOB PATH: Bringing Agency Vision to Life EVERYDAY HEROES: Direct Support Leadership Development CIRCLES OF HOPE: Reflections of Circle Facilitators THE CREATIVE REFLECTION JOURNEY: Academic Advisors Reflect SPIRIT KEEPER PROJECTS: GENERAL DESCRIPTION The purpose of this project is to clarify the collective wisdom and guiding values of an organization through the participation of as many people as possible in the development of guiding themes, composition of artwork that expresses those themes, and stories that illustrate those themes. The final product is a work of fabric art for the agency that can be reproduced and used in many ways to keep the values and the spirit of the organization alive. Part 1: Initial concept, design, and plan 1. First meeting: discuss concepts and sketch plan. 2. First staff gathering: telling stories and finding themes. 3. Gather materials, submit first design and implementation plan. 4. Negotiation of fees and payments, rights, usage, and credits. Part 2: Artist workshops 1. Day One: Participants create rough sketches, design collages,     and develop stories. 2. Day Two: Quilters' Workshop, first group. 3. Day Three: Quilters' Workshop, second group. Part 3: Fabrication and Production 1. Finish squares. 2. Construct quilt top. 3. Machine quilt. 4. Finish. Part 4: Enactment and Reproduction 1. Formal presentation, storytelling, and celebration. 2. Product development (i.e., logo, stationery, teaching calendar,     poster, cards, etc.).

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