April Penny (BFA, BEd, DTATI, RCAT, RP)
Hamilton, ON

April is a registered art therapist, registered psychotherapist, supervisor, educator and artist currently based in Hamilton. She has been providing art therapy services in the Greater Toronto Area since 2005, specializing in geriatrics, aging and young adults with complex needs. She facilitates inclusive and accessible art-making experiences within the long-term care framework to support adaptive and meaningful aging with mindful considerations for individuals navigating challenges related to physical disability, cognitive decline, and mental health struggles.

*Editor’s note: All images lovingly composed and provided by April — we’re so grateful for the contribution!

In recent months I have been reflecting on my experiences and connections through a daily eco-art practice. One day, with a ‘lightness of being’ savoured by receiving some unexpectedly good news, I went out to create using natural materials and to relax in my garden—my sanctuary.

Hope emerged in its own rhythm, as I began to create art and to establish a personal grounding within a much needed daily practice during these stressful pandemic times. This rhythm has helped to provide me with time for reflection and processing as personal challenges gained momentum and losses piled up. My daily practice has also granted me a new perspective on the complexities of my life, both glorious and tricky with glimmers of resilience and joy emerging like new growth – budding, bursting through the cracks of my well-trodden path, previously weighted with Covid and life worries.

This new perspective did not provide automatic resolution per se, but rather added a little glimmer of knowing in contrast to the great unknowns that confronted me. That, combined with being present in my garden sanctuary, nudged my thoughts and guided my actions just enough to reach out to embrace the external beauty and plentiful natural resources, using materials that unabashedly made a statement, as they flourished and transformed vividly outside my back door. With a rhythm motivated by needs and buoyed by my deep appreciation for the privilege I have in being here — in my own garden space — I became increasingly present, aware, grateful. Thus, moving into this state of gratitude and reverence allowed me to cultivate creativity and hope and to nurture the needed resources within in readiness for the next challenge.

As I had so lovingly cultivated the actual garden space through planting when I moved here 5 years ago, I attended to cultivating my internal resources and self-care space with my full-attention. Ultimately I have been trying to practice what I encourage others to do within my friendships, art therapy, supervision and teaching connections (self-care and the gentle compassion needed to support our understandably struggling selves).

Stepping out my back door, the visual scene of the garden (bursting with life) often began my grounding process. Mindful moments of reflection, breathing and gratitude merged with the daily gentle rhythms of connection, association and reminiscence.

Sometimes I stepped outside with a person or relationship in mind. At other times, I emerged with just a feeling or the need to be in a soothing space for a moment’s pause in my life. Letting my eyes wander around the garden gently resting on the colours, forms and textures of foliage and florals, ideas formed and nature became my companion in savouring meaningful memories, or moments.

Quietly sinking into meditative and contemplative states, I reflect on connections — whether moments spent previously with those I hold dear, or the colours and forms related to meaningful connections I have made, both fleeting and fixed. These connecting circles support a gentle nod to the essence of that person and their impactful presence: the influence of that friend, peer, or connection in my world specifically and also in how they touched the larger world, transforming our relationship to one another and making it tangible to behold.

At other times, this practice simply and powerfully held the space for honouring lives lost - for those known to me and the collective heartache of such global cumulative loss. The gentle wisdom of nature and art guiding and supporting me in both reminiscence and heartache.

Flowers, petals, leaves, rocks and twigs became tiny treasures, offering exciting inspiration from my garden finds — to witness, to make tangible and to cherish my relationships. Friend and fellow art therapist, Andrea, calls these creations… ”petal poetry”. The line, curve and strength of the (new-to-me) climbing Malabar spinach vines became the most influential element as a starting point to create and form the woven circle, fittingly introduced by my dear friend and horticultural therapist Jenny (who arrived at my doorstep throughout the pandemic for outdoor visits and garden-sanctuary plant deliveries).

Rich discussions, shared creativity and learning whilst being accompanied by friends, art therapy peers, students, colleagues, educators and workshop presenters all influenced and propelled this very personal and meaningful project forward. A special thanks to Susan, Patricia, Meghan and Jay who encouraged and supported me in capturing my thoughts and sharing my eco-art journey through the writing of this article. Feeling blessed and grateful for all of it.

My connecting circles’ process, journey and ongoing practice will be shared on Instagram: @connectingcircles.april and https://www.aprilpenny.com/connecting-circles-1