ALLISON MICHELLE STREATER
artist | designer | educator
My artistic practice is driven by a desire to address the complexities of the human condition. I believe that art has the power to challenge societal norms, spark critical thinking, and inspire social change. I hold a deep desire to engage in meaningful, authentic conversations about mental health, exploring themes of grief, trauma, and social issues through a multidisciplinary approach. My artistic process is characterized by experimentation and a relentless pursuit of continuous learning.
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I employ a diverse range of media—painting, sculpture, printmaking, sewing, woodworking, and digital design—often combining them in unconventional ways to challenge traditional artistic rules. In choosing materials of varying textures I'm faced with a dilemma on complimentary adhesions turning every project into an experimental and challenging journey. Each project develops uniquely, requiring thoughtful analysis and improvement of systems. The enjoyment I get from improving systems reveals why I love complex mediums like sculpting, print making and sewing, as they lend to concise processes done repetitively with intermittent breaks. Combining incongruous mediums or working with a jammed machine both demand you to pause and reflect on the process and how to improve it. I enjoy these mental breaks confronting and resolving challenges with compassionate curiosity.
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My journey as an artist has been profoundly shaped by personal experiences, including a near-fatal accident and a battle with cancer. These events, coupled with my own struggles with mental health, have fueled my passion for using art as a tool for healing and understanding. My inclination for vulnerable dialogue and my desire to create led me to seeking a graduate degree in Art Therapy. After two intensive introspective semesters, I realized my passion was in creating art about psychotherapy rather than being a therapist. I still find inspiration in the theories of mental health professionals Bessel van der Kolk, MD., Stephen W. Porges, Phd., Carl Rogers, and Alfred Adler. Authors, comedians and poets like Brene Brown, Mel Robbins, Jenny Lawson, Ellen Forney, and Yung Pueblo inspire and influence my understanding of the human condition. I am particularly drawn to the concept of polyvagal theory and its implications for understanding human behavior. Bridging cognitive understanding to my work is vital in my artistic process.
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As a resident of Pittsburgh, I am actively engaging with the local arts community. I have attended Creative Hive networking events hosted by Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. Learned new skills at workshops through Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh Center for Art and Media, and Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse. I have also volunteered with organizations like the Library of Accessible Media. Furthermore, I provide art lessons through Fine Art Miracles servicing assisted living facilities, children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum, and economically challenged communities. I believe in the power of vulnerable dialogue and seek to create spaces where people can openly discuss sensitive topics like trauma, cognitive health and mood disorders without fear of judgment. I seek to create a meaningful impact on my community and foster a deeper understanding of mental health through artistic engagement.