The Stehekin Kite Project took place in May 2012 in Stehekin, Washington; the project was an investigation into the practice of eco-art therapy, an emerging discipline, blended from the fields of psychology, environmental education, and the practice of art. The purpose of the kite project was to encourage the emergence of relationships between people and the natural world through collaboration with natural phenomena via the art process. Residents of Stehekin and visitors to the Stehekin area worked together to build personalized kites which were flown from the head of Lake Chelan. Participants expressed enjoyment, empowerment, and pride resulting from the process of building and flying their kites, demonstrating cooperation with one another and responsiveness to environmental conditions. An exhibition at the Golden West Gallery in the North Cascades National Park visitors’ center opened on May 11, featuring kites, photos, and other artifacts from the kite project. The Stehekin Kite Project was presented by Arts and Humanities of Stehekin, in cooperation with the National Park Service, sponsored by Antioch University Seattle, and funded by a grant from the Suquamish Tribe, with additional support from the Drachen Foundation. The kite project was facilitated by Art Therapy graduate student Heather Biermann.
The Stehekin Kite Project will be presented at the 44th annual American Art Therapy Association conference in Seattle, Washington. The presentation will take place on Saturday June 29, at noon, at the Seattle Sheridan. The Stehekin Kite Project will be presented to illustrate the practice of eco-art therapy. Those attending the presentation will gain an understanding of the theoretical foundations and purposes of eco-art therapy, will understand the practice of eco-art therapy after viewing directives, art objects, and photos from The Stehekin Kite Project, and will be able to develop eco-art therapy directives that will encourage client contact with the natural world. A list of eco-art therapy directives developed by conference attendees will be posted to this site after the conference and can be accessed by going to the links page.
The Stehekin Kite Project website provides access to the kite project blog, a web-based thesis on the subject of eco-art therapy, containing theoretical information and Heather’s personal responses to the kite project. Access links to specific thesis sections within the blog, media information related to the kite project, sponsors and contributors’ contact information, links to kite artists, and information about kite building and flying on the links page. Images related to the Stehekin Kite Project can be found on the gallery page and a how to page provides step by step kite building instructions.
The Stehekin Kite Project will be presented at the 44th annual American Art Therapy Association conference in Seattle, Washington. The presentation will take place on Saturday June 29, at noon, at the Seattle Sheridan. The Stehekin Kite Project will be presented to illustrate the practice of eco-art therapy. Those attending the presentation will gain an understanding of the theoretical foundations and purposes of eco-art therapy, will understand the practice of eco-art therapy after viewing directives, art objects, and photos from The Stehekin Kite Project, and will be able to develop eco-art therapy directives that will encourage client contact with the natural world. A list of eco-art therapy directives developed by conference attendees will be posted to this site after the conference and can be accessed by going to the links page.
The Stehekin Kite Project website provides access to the kite project blog, a web-based thesis on the subject of eco-art therapy, containing theoretical information and Heather’s personal responses to the kite project. Access links to specific thesis sections within the blog, media information related to the kite project, sponsors and contributors’ contact information, links to kite artists, and information about kite building and flying on the links page. Images related to the Stehekin Kite Project can be found on the gallery page and a how to page provides step by step kite building instructions.