Art therapy group boosts kids’ self-esteem

Harper College Professor Jacquelyn Mott first encountered Purpura Plastika in Mexico, when the group — a nonprofit art therapy organization — was working with children in an orphanage in the Yucatan.

She was so moved she knew she had to bring them back to Palatine.

“I was so impressed by the impact their workshop had on the kids,” Mott says, “They are changing the lives of those in need and aiding in the communities they visit, too. It’s all about empowerment.”

The group recently visited Harper College for the campus’ International Education Week celebration, tackling an art project with children enrolled in a program in the college’s Northeast Center.

With an eye on boosting self-esteem and confidence, Purpura Plastika had the children personify positive traits they see in themselves or admire in others (like courage), and then translate those traits into a picture of a representative animal (like a lion).

The result: A classroom full of proud kids, and a boldly painted zoo of “Fantastic Animals” that will continue to be displayed in the center.

Since its inception, the Mexico-based Purpura Plastika has worked with the mentally ill, battered women, addicts, alcoholics and impoverished children to build inner strength through art.

Its workshops typically run once or twice weekly for a period three months, encouraging self-expression after trauma. By identifying strengths and encouraging introspection, the organization hopes to make it easier for participants to take on daily struggles. After the workshops’ three-month run, the resulting gallery of art is showcased for friends, family and the community.

In addition to its Harper stop, Purpura Plastika worked with a low-literacy group at the Palatine Opportunity Center and an adolescent psychology class during it visit to Palatine.

“They’re really helping society through art,” Mott says.

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