International Fieldworks Presents
ART AS TEAM BUILDING

How would creating a Mosaic Installation benefit your company, its employees and its customers?

Collaborative art is a fun, creative way for managers and/or employees to work together in a team. It is different enough from day-to-day activities that participants will not be caught up in their usual way of thinking, but instead have the opportunity to open up to other ideas, skills and processes. Talents will shine through that otherwise go un-noticed.

When such a possibility piece is created and installed in the workplace, it serves as a constant reminder of the fun, talent, creativity and ability to work together that was enjoyed while creating it. Something in which each staff member can be proud of having been a participant.

Employees come away with a new sense of empowerment and being an important and integral part of the team. Workability is the theme that is threaded throughout the process, with obstacles discussed as they arise. The greater integration and understanding established with the team is then played forward as they work with customers. Everyone wins.

How it works:

We start the day with an exercise that gets everyone present and beginning to look at relationships within the work environment. We then set groundrules and begin.

The team explores and creates the design of the piece to be worked on.

This is done with a combination of brainstorming, discussion among the participants, decision-making and what the piece will look like. Lastly, a name for the piece will be created.

Before continuing with work on the piece, time is spent debriefing on the process so far to identify the roles people have fallen into, what worked and didn't work about the process. Ideas for improving workability on a day-to-day basis at work are discussed.

The art piece is created with everyone participating.

This may also include broken dishes, glasses, etc. that team members have brought in, making it a commemorative piece also.

A second debriefing takes place to notice the differences since the last debriefing and to continue development of solutions for greater workability.

Grouting is done as the last part of the team participation to complete the Mosaic.

Once the grouting is in place, then we debrief and capture the lessons learned. The changes that can be made back at the company for a more seamless team approach to serving the customer and creating a workplace where everyone thrives are noted.

Leigh Adams is actively engaged on a daily basis with preserving, practicing and teaching folk and traditional arts and has been leading workshops in the US, Mexico, Costa Rica and China for the past twenty five years. She is the Artist In Residence at the Los Angeles County Arboretum.  Leigh has taught processes from basketry, gourd art, mosaic, glass, weaving, sculpture, lamps, ceramics, paper mache and whimsical folk arts with products ranging from installation art in glass and ceramic mosaic, eco parks in Mexico and Costa Rica  and glass jewelry in prisons and programs for kids at risk.

Awake and alive to the creative spirit in all of us, she uses art to expand horizons on every front:  the heart, the mind, the body and the spirit.   Her artistic talent, her rich inner life and her amazing relationships are expansive in nature, and with boundless grace and generosity she offers all of these resources to whoever is fortunate enough to be in her midst. 

She not only brings her international world of art and artists to her students, they bring their worlds to her. Leigh's students invariably understand that art and creativity are shared, joyful and essential human experiences.   Excellence follows, it flows forth . . . from her, from the participants.

Leigh's classes allow all students to create, feel good about the processes and increase their understanding of the skills required.   She is a master at bringing out the best in all of her students and supporting and empowering them to teach others. She speaks Spanish like a native and her Chinese charms any Chinese speaking individual.

Ria is an executive development consultant, a certified mediator and licensed psychotherapist (LMFT24650). She has served executives and employees from major Los Angeles law firms and corporations for over 20 years. Ms. Severance's style is genuine and direct.

Pauline Field has been a consultant for over twenty years specializing in operational improvement, conflict resolution, business development and executive coaching. She has consulted with major corporations, not-for-profit organizations, small companies and government agencies worldwide.

Her understanding of business comes both from academic training and from the practical experience of having been an employee, contractor, vendor and owner. Her experience also allowed her to develop her leadership and now considerable consensus building skills.

Pauline has appeared on a number of radio and television shows and is a sought after speaker.