Why Dorks Make Art
Dork Dancing started to advocate for mental health. In a matter of weeks, we discovered we could do more than just dance. So we started offering other events, called “Dork Events.” First Dork Dancing, then Dork Meetups, and now Dork Art.
Dork Art grew out of a vision from Kyana, a dork dancer. Kyana frequently explores her creativity, individuality, emotions, and ideas through art. She has an intimate relationship with her creations, as they help her process topics and concerns related to mental health, such as anxiety, sexual trauma and depression.
Kyana is sharing her artistic experiences, creativities and passions with the dork dancing community to offer something helpful. Her event offers a new way to connect with ourselves, each other, and the topic of mental health. It’s a space to express and explore through new creative outlets.
Mental health can be explored in many ways and art is one of the most powerful tools we have to do that. Throughout human history, we have gravitated towards artistic expression to communicate ideas. Discoveries are often made through what we create.
Kyana is inspired by a favorite quote from Betty Edwards, in her book Drawing on the Artist Within, “Drawing, like words, have meaning-often beyond the power of words to express, but nonetheless invaluable in making chaos of our sensory impressions comprehensible.”
Dork Art gives a space for us to continue on that journey. Communicating creatively with ourselves and others, about mental health, through art.
The event serves as a kind of therapy but it’s more than just therapy through art. It’s also therapy through people: a space to connect with others, to support one another, and offer a safe space for creative exploration. Dork Art is for dork artists: anyone with a desire to explore anything related to art without regard to talent or skill. Stick figures are welcomed here.
Kyana first started Dork Art in the beginning of lockdown. Over the course of a month, Kyana has worked tirelessly creating expressive prompts & exercises for people to engage with. She has worked with Mily (from Dork Meetups) on a mental health booklet and has already hosted Dork Art online.
For now, during lockdown, Dork Art meets once every other Sunday at 7PM on Zoom. As we transition out of lockdown, details on the event location and time will shift.
Kyana believes that mental health should not be weaponized. Instead of stigmatized, standardized: that’s why she’s here with us, working to overcome and celebrate our mental health challenges.
She’s not only a dork dancer and a dork artist, but an all around dork. She’s worked tremendously to shed shame and carry pride. Kyana is inspiring us to explore mental health deeper and differently.
If you are interested in joining, please reach out to Kyana directly, who can give you more information about her events.