Clouds and Clay

The third practice brought participants outside where they were invited to look at the clouds while kneading and shaping their clay. This practice inspired by Koivisto et al. (2009) introduced the visual element to add to the tactile work. In addition, this served as a neurobic exercise inspired by Katz and Rubin (1998). A neurobic exercise pairs senses to activate underused neural pathways. Thus, by pinching clay and observing elements of nature, two senses are being utilized in ways they may not have used before. In addition, participants elected to take a mindful walk with their clay companions. Participants were observed making imprints on their clay, exploring drying and wetting, and picking out rocks from dropped clay. Participants were invited to take note of how the outdoor setting informed or guided their work. Some replied that they were inspired to make representations, and others noted how the environment impacted their exploration. The dryness of the air, the surface participants sat on, and the patterns of the shade were noted. Participants noted the connection they felt to various plant beings, sounds, and scents. Each shared that they had a greater awareness of how their senses interacted and a general report of slowing down with more attention to their surroundings.

References:

Katz, L., & Rubin, M. (1998). Keep Your Brain Alive: 83 Neurobic Exercises to Help Prevent Memory Loss and Increase Mental Fitness (updated ed.). Workman Publishing Company.

Koivisto, M., Kainulainen, P., & Revonsuo, A. (2009). The relationship between awareness and attention: evidence from ERP responses. Neuropsychologia, 47(13), 2891-2899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.06.016