In my (rare) free time, I love to create art of all kinds. You could say I like to dabble. Art has always been a passion of mine—for as long as I can remember, I’ve had a pencil in hand. It's been a way to express what words often can’t. On top of that, having faced my own mental health challenges in the past few years, art has been there as a support for me, more than ever before. It’s helped me process, cope, and heal. 

Taking those two things into consideration, when I chose to take an ELO class this year, I came in with a clear plan: to explore the positive impact art can have on mental health. Over the course of the year, I’ve interviewed art therapists, created my own pieces, and most meaningfully, brought this community installation to life. The goal of this installation is to celebrate that power and to showcase the deep, positive impact art therapy can have. I hope it encourages others to turn to art as a tool for comfort, expression, and self-discovery.

I am so incredibly proud of what each participating artist has done to each individual tile. They responded to each prompt with such creativity and care, making each tile uniquely beautiful. My hope was that this project would leave a lasting mark on the CEHS community—and now, more than ever, I believe it will. Years from now, even the youngest students walking these halls will be able to admire the artistic spirit of our staff, students, and neighbors, and feel the connection that art can bring. Each peice holds a story, from the emotions in a day, the feelings of isolation and loneliness, the hope for a better future, and so much more. 

This project has been a true joy to work on, taking COUNTLESS hours from each week. It's taught me more about myself than I would've thought. It’s pushed me far beyond my comfort zone—from presenting to CEEF to asking for a major grant, and even being interviewed on the news! I've been pushed way out of my comfort zone. But that was ALL worth it. 

I truly hope this project will create a excitment for other students to go big, create huge things, and accomplish your dreams. It's all so worth it!

John P. Gardiner is a Maine based artist and maker, currently residing in the coastal town of Bath, though he spends most of his time in Portland teaching the next generation of aspiring woodworkers as a member of Maine College of Art & Design’s Woodworking and Furniture Design program. Although John has called Maine his home for the majority of his life, he was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. He immigrated to the United States in 1986 and has spent time living in the suburbs of Chicago, San Diego and Boston. John holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Fine Art, in Woodworking and Furniture Design and Studio Art, respectively, both from Maine College of Art. John’s work spans a spectrum from fine furniture and studio crafts to larger scale sculptural work and installations. Through the use of both traditional and digital fabrication techniques his work investigates intersections of Art, Craft, Technology, Science and Science Fiction. The unknown future of the human race, as well as our asymbiotic relationship with planet Earth, are often at the conceptual core of his work.

Gardiner’s work has been featured at the ICA at Maine College of Art & Design, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, the UMVA Gallery in Portland, First Street Gallery in New York City, and The Boston Young Contemporaries Exhibition at Boston University.  A prominent furniture piece can be seen and used at DiMillo’s On the Water Restaurant and Lounge in Portland, Maine. John was also featured in a 2012 publication by Brigitte Martin titled Humor in Craft and has received multiple Project Grants from the Maine Arts Commission. John has attended residencies and workshops at Hewnoaks Artist Colony in Lovell, Maine, the Baie St. Marie Residency in Nova Scotia, Canada, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.

www.johnpgardiner.com

@john.p.gardiner