Creative thursdays - Life quality (handcrafted and artistic varieties)

Abstract

The Creative Thursdays denominates the connection activity between art, extension and handcraft. It is a University Culture and Art Extension sub-project and they are performed at a CIS-Guanabara (Unicamp's Cultural, Social Integration and Inclusion Center) space. It aims to gather people from the community, with the purpose of socializaing and building knowledge, developing handcraft practices and creativity, providing exchange conditions. It intends to awaken in participants the artistic and cultural sense, knowledge and esthetic values expansion and, consequently, life quality improvement. The workshops provide texture and color combination notions, in additio to enhance basic techniques when using needle and thread. The participants develop sensitivity, concentration and attention, through various activity such as fuxico [Brazilian embroidery], painting, crochet, knitting, among other. The following tools are used: magazines, project models, needles, threads, laces, glues, among other. Each participant is free to propose ideas and create works according to their experience, living and creativity. The project began in 2009, and offered 158 workshops until June/2016, with a weekly audience of 20 people. The handcraft is also an income source. The manual art practice influences on the emotion release, improves communication, strengthen self-image and develop creative potentials. The participants create toys, knit stockings and purses for donations at Unicamp's hospital. The workshops are relevant, since they strengthen social and personal development and the life quality improvement is observed with art discovery and practice.