Artist Prompt: Draw-Interconnectedness

Draw-Interconnectedness
Designed by Bel Falleiros

This artist prompt is based on a Saturday Studio on the Farm workshop offered in partnership with Common Ground Farm.

Introduction
We will reflect on the idea of interconnectedness by taking a closer look at the things around us, both externally—in nature and our homes—and internally with ourselves. If we take a closer look at every part of a house, body, or of the elements in nature, can we trace lines of interconnectedness? 

Try this with your family. It is an opportunity to connect with others while sharing an experience of a place or landscape.

Materials/Preparation
- If possible, do this exercise outside to connect with the landscape around you. You might find more surprising elements in an open environment!
- You will need a light-colored piece of fabric (like an old pillowcase, bedsheet, shirt, or a piece of canvas) and something to draw or paint with (try sharpies, pastels, old makeup, or paint).
- Optional: Scissors and a piece of string for the Go Further part of the exercise.

Warm-Up/Meditation
- Let's move our bodies a bit before we start. If you can, stand. Take three deep breaths: inhale to connect with what is above us and exhale to connect with what is below.
- With each deep breath, open your arms on the inhale as if you were embracing the sky above. As you exhale, bend over, close your arms around your body, and imagine you’re letting the earth below embrace you.
- Repeat it three times, or as many as needed!

Exercise
Choose a place in your home or outside where you like to spend time. Lay the fabric on the ground so that it connects you with the spot you chose. If there is room, lie down on the fabric. If it’s a smaller piece, you can try placing your hand or arm on the fabric. Trace an outline of your body or hand. If you have outlined your hand, keep your hand on the fabric and lie on your back.

Carefully observe what is around you. What is underneath you? What is above you? How do they interconnect? What affects your body? What makes you feel good? Where does that manifest in your body? Is there a word to represent it? Think about the expansiveness of the sky above us, the clouds, the birds, and how we all connect with the land.

Use your drawing or painting materials to record your observations and feelings onto the fabric around your outline.

Once you finish describing everything you feel on the outside, let’s connect with what is inside us.  Turn to lie on your belly and close your eyes. How does the ground feel? How does your body feel? Where do you feel it? Think about the earth’s embrace and your connection to the land.

Record your observations inside the outline.

Tip: You can record your observations directly on the outline where they are felt in the body. You can also use the strength of the strokes and colors to reflect the intensity of the feelings. There is no right or wrong – the most important thing is to keep drawing. The more observations you can fill the fabric with, the better!

Go Further
If you are feeling more adventurous, let’s connect with the elements around us and make a final object with which to remember this experience. Use this moment to walk around the area you chose. Look for objects that catch your attention and bring you joy. What elements do you feel like touching? What are the objects that you deeply relate to?

Collect the objects you would like to keep close and wrap them in the fabric, using string to tie everything together. This object is now your amulet that celebrates the interconnectedness in everyday objects, perceptions, and relationships. Hang on to it!

We would like to see your creations and add a selection of them to the blog. Please share images of your work by emailing submissions@diaart.org.

Bel Falleiros is a Brazilian artist whose artistic research focuses on land identity. Starting with her hometown of São Paulo, she has worked to understand how contemporary landscapes, city tissue, and monuments (mis)represent the diverse layers of presence that constitute a place. Falleiros is an artist educator at Dia Beacon, where she works with the Arts Education Program. She currently lives and works in upstate New York, rural Virginia, and São Paulo.