19 Project Ideas for a Healing Curriculum

The following list of projects creates a curriculum of healing. These can be used to assist anyone through the healing process – all ages, genders, and manners of identity. These ideas for projects and the artists that go along with them provide the opportunity to work on issues of independence, identity, and self-exploration during the healing process and to share recovery with others. 

Project #1 – Favorite Things About Me

Water color

Artists: Sark, Helen Frankenthaler, Sonia Delaunay, and Niki De Saint Phalle

Project #2 – Past and Future

Time line accordion fold book and illustration

Artists: Hildegard of Bingen’s Book of Divine Works and Christina Iglesias

Project #3 – Alter

Mixed media collage

Artists: Louise Nevelson and Sophie Calle

Project #4 – Healing Song

Writing lyrics to your song and making a CD frame

Artists: Hannah Wilke, Jenny Holtzer, and Mary Kelly

Project #5 – Painting Your Affirmation

Acrylic painting

Artists: Frida Kahlo, Leonora Carrington, Helene Schjerfbeck, and Gwen John

Project #6 – Changing Moods

Paper dolls magazine collage

Artists: Susan Hiller, Nan Golding, Marlene Dumas, and Cindy Sherman

Project #7 – Woven Images and Fans

Construction paper and watercolors

Artists: Miriam Schapiro, Bridget Riley, and Rebecca Horn

Project #8 – Clay Plate

Ceramics

Artists: Judy Chicago and Linda Benglis

Project #9 – Mural

Acrylic on canvas

Artist: Susan Rothenberg, Marie Laurencin, and Jennifer Bartlett

Project #10 – Creating Your Own Mythology

Printmaking

Artist: Nancy Spero and Kathe Kollwitz

Project #11 – Body Tracing

Butcher paper, marker, and magazine collage

Artist: Kiki Smith, Carolee Scheeman, Barbara Kruger, and Tamara De Lempicka

Project #12 – Landscape of the Mind

Oil pastel landscape

Artist: Dorothea Tanning, Grandma Ann Moses, Paula Rego, and Georgia O’Keefe

Project #13 – Lances

Sticks, yarn, and fabric

Artist: Yoko Ono, Judith Barry, and Annette Messager

Project #14 – Banners

Butcher paper and markers

Artists: Eva Hesse and Joan Brossa

Project #15 – Self-portrait

Wood, charcoal, and paint

Artists: Marisol Escobar and Alice Neer

Project #16 – Working from the Unconscious

Tissue paper, glue, and marker

Artists: Karel Appel, Agnes Martin, and Joan Mitchell

Project #17 – Inside Ourselves, Outside Ourselves

Mask making with clay

Artists: Eileen Agar

Project #18 – Book Making

Journaling with butcher paper and marker

Artists: Zarina Bhimji and Rosemary Trockel

Project #19 – Sacred Sculptures

Found art

Artists: Meret Oppenheim

Materials: Hot glue gun, plastic containers, butcher paper, glue, cardboard, acrylic paint, canvas board, brushes, construction paper, cans, glue, tape, paper cutter, clay, glaze, beads, glitter, fabric