What do you find are the benefits that clients derive from participating in group therapy, such as is provided at the Crisis Center of Comal?
I think that the benefit of the group session is that it confirms that we are not alone. It also helps to know how other people have handled their particular trauma. It is also a way to see outside of yourself .... to see that the pain is not only in you. There is also a tremendous amount of support. For me it was a stepping stone into counseling. It helped me to share my story with others that truly understand.
anonymous artist
Will you explain when and how you came to develop the idea for the Hope for Healing monument?
About 3 years ago ...... during the first year of beginning to understand the horrendous abuse that I went through as a child ..... I kept thinking and saying to my counselor and even to my husband, I just want to somehow make a difference in this world. It was just a nagging thought in the beginning. That lasted for a little over a year. Then when our family was on vacation, we had a lot of down time. Eventually I ran across a website that really inspired me. I then began to sketch what ideas came to mind. Over the course of the next week or so, the vision of what I had been searching for, was apparent to me. I then casually mentioned it to the artists at the Gevers Street Studio. Just as an idea ... to throw into the melting pot of ideas that we were reviewing. The artists in this coop are very involved in making a difference in our city. I could hardly get the words out of my mouth and many of the artists jumped up and said, "Let's do it!" I was shocked at how easy this was. The artists are giving their time and expertise to make this sculpture a reality. I could have not done this without their support.
anonymous artist
Where
are you in the monument process and what further materials or resources do you
need to complete the monument?
The
sculpture will be FREE to the Crisis Center of Comal County (CCCC). The normal
price of this kind of sculpture would be around $35,000, if I did not have the
help from the artists. I presented it to the board at CCCC, for their approval.
They voted YES! Then Danny Perez (executive director) took it to the city of
New Braunfels for approval. It was approved as long as the maximum height is no
taller than 8 feet. I then had to present architectural drawings to the city.
They have had the drawings for about a month. We are now waiting for the
building permit.
anonymous artist
We have
already started the art workshops in which the staff and clients at the CCCC
are using their hands to make plaques out of hydrostone. We will need at least
100 plaques, or maybe more. To date we have around 30 plaques completed.
anonymous artist
The
resource we need is money. Some of the circumstances have changed since the
inception of this project. Tax-deductible donations are needed. The artists are
giving their time and many hours of work for FREE. But the materials are
costly.
anonymous artist
How can
people contact you if they would like to help with or donate to the Hope for
Healing monument project?
Or contact
the Crisis Center of Comal County — (830) 620-7520.
anonymous artist
You can
talk to anyone that answers, and they can give you directions on donating to
this project. They will provide you with a receipt for your donation, for tax
purposes. All donations are tax deductible. This is a non-profit organization.
The executive director is Danny Perez. Danny will not be back in the office
until around the middle of July.
Please be
sure that any check that is made is made out to: Crisis Center of Comal County.
Note on the check: "Hope For Healing Sculpture
Project."
