The Sierra Project is the home for programs that promote creativity and resiliency for traumatic brain injury survivors, their siblings, and their caregivers via art. Art has always been very important to Sierra Longmoore and was something she enjoys as part of her rehabiliatation. The Sierra Project is her passion project and one way to pay forward the blessings she received from the community after her accident, and to go forward and help others on their own TBI journeys.
Paint It Forward
Art at any skill level promotes creativity and resiliency! It's proven to be a wonderful way to process emotions, increase creativity, and promote resiliency. Unmask The Invisble wants to Paint It Forward by offering simple art kits to TBI Survivors, their siblings, and caregiver. We invite you to request complementary Art Kits from The Sierra Project and Unmask The Invisible.
The kit contains art supplies* and an information guide with support resources to help you along the TBI journey. When you complete a piece of artwork, join other artists from our TBI community, send it to us via our submission form!
We will post your masterpiece in our online Art Gallery and share it on social media. Your artwork helps us promote Unmask the Invisible to reach more TBI individuals to advocate for and support.
*Art supplies in the kits pictured on this page may vary and are dependent on availability.
What's In The Art Kit?
Each art kit contains:
- watercolor paper,
- watercolor paints,
- a special paintbrush with a place for the water right in the barrel of the handle.
This Is Your Brain On Art Events
Art accesses many of the advanced processes of the human brain, such as intuitive analysis, expressivity, and embodied cognition. Artists are often better observers and have better memory, and this may be due to how art affects the brain’s plasticity.
— @ACRM.org, How The Brain Is Affected By Art
The Sierra Project and Unmask The Invisible host art workshops, get-togethers, and retreats that are centered around creativity, expressing emotions, and having fun.
This Is Your Brain on Art Events are designed for the TBI Survivor, their family, and caretakers. Some events are also open to the public to bring awareness of the brain injured community and to show support.
These events are held periodically and upcoming dates can be found on our Events Calendar, or sign up for emails to be notified as events are added!
The Weighted Paintbrush Project
We know how important it is for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivors to be patient with themselves and to find joy and meaning in the creative activities they can engage in, regardless of limitations. Various adaptive tools and techniques can assist individuals with limited fine motor skills. There are grips and weighted pens and pencils, but no weighted paintbrush. "Weighting" objects helps with ataxia and, for a brain-injured individual, it enables the brain to make stronger connections.
We are working with students from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth to develop a weighted paintbrush to assist individuals who struggle with ataxia.
Do you the skills or background to help with this project and can volunteer your time? Contact us here.
