Process step : 4 (evaluate)
Objective
Externalise ways for group members to evaluate the process they are going through in the project.
Artistic medium : Drawing
Material
Blank paper (min. 2 per person), drawing materials; scotch tape (optional)
Progress
Explain to members that we will draw how we feel about how the project, or our experience within the project, is going so far. Distribute papers and drawing materials to everyone.
Start with the balloons – invite everyone to draw a balloon on their paper. Once that’s done, tell them this balloon represents our FEARS about the project/process. They can write, draw, doodle, but take the next 5 minutes for each person to draw their FEARS in and around their balloon. This is done in silence.
Next, move on to the kites – invite everyone to take a new piece of paper, and to draw a kite on it. Once they are done, tell them this kite represents their HOPES about the project/process. Have them write, draw, doodle, and take the next 5 minutes to express their HOPES around their kite.
When everyone is done, invite them to look at both of their pages. Then, they can stand or move around if they want to, and place their papers in the space (the tape can be useful here, as they can fix it to the wall, a chair, etc.) Once everyone has placed both their papers in the space, invite them to walk around, in silence, and look at others’ pages and where they are in the space. (This will be somewhat anonymous, as everyone moves around at the same time). This is a short of exhibition of where we are at as a group in this space and project.
Once everyone has wandered, invite people to move their own pages now, if they want to, based on the information they received from others drawings. Once they have moved their pieces (or not), invite everyone to breathe in stillness and take it all in – this is the BIG PICTURE of our project at this point in time.
Comments
This exercise is beneficial to do in silence, as it brings intimacy and thoughtfulness to the fears and hopes that can be hard for some to express. Here it is best to facilitate some discussion after the exercise, or you may facilitate a debrief with the group. However, set some agreements with the group that: what each person wrote is personal; and that instead of identifying someone else’s work or words, that we can speak to our own perspective both in writing and in moving around the space (this helps with trust and consent from each member to speak, or not, about what they wrote).
If people would like to take their papers with them in the end, invite them to. If not, collect them as the facilitator. These may prove useful to take out at a later date and see how the project has evolved.
Writing : Koby Rogers Hall
Source : adapted from Augusto Boal; experienced as a workshop participant at the Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics (New York).