Connie Pfieffer enjoys painting, coloring and spending time with her friends. Art Lab Rx sessions at Rise Oakdale bring all those things together, which is what makes them a highlight of Connie’s week.  

“It is fun!” she says while working on today’s art assignment: create art that connects you to safe place. Connie’s proudly shows off her work that says, ‘Rise.’  “This is where I feel safe,” she says with a smile.  

From building “emotion monsters” out of pipe cleaners and clay to painting “happy trees” that represent what brings them joy, Art Lab Rx’s art therapy sessions at Rise Oakdale are designed to be approachable, engaging, and personal.  

Art Lab Rx is an organization with the core value of transformation. Program interns bring art therapy to schools, community groups, and organizations like Rise to provide opportunities for creative self-expression and personal growth. It allows people to explore their emotions, strengths, and values through a variety of engaging and meaningful art activities. 

“We’re not doing an art class. We are doing art therapy. We encourage participants to make art based on themes about change, growth, and deeper life experiences,” says Lisa Lounsbury, Art Lab Rx’s Executive Director. 

“We always try to incorporate materials and themes that they connect with,” adds intern Libby. “We’ve done superhero projects to explore strengths and even used pop culture references like the movie Inside Out to allow people to explore and understand their emotions.” 

 A favorite medium among the group is stickers, which are now a regular part of the lab’s art supply.  

Each session focuses on a new theme, inviting participants to express themselves and reflect on their experiences in a safe, supportive environment. 

The sessions are structured to support cognitive and emotional growth while remaining fun and accessible. “It helps people process things without having to speak,” said Intern Libby. “A picture is worth a thousand words.” 

Connie’s favorite project so far involved marble art, which was created by shaking paint-covered marbles across paper. 

The impact of the program extends beyond the art room. Rise support staff notice people who participate in art therapy open up more, form closer relationships, and discover talents they didn’t know they had. “We’ve heard staff say, ‘I didn’t know they could draw like that,’” Libby noted. “The social aspect is growing, too as people become more comfortable and connect with each other” 

Art Lab Rx’s work at Rise Oakdale is a great example of how creativity can be a powerful tool for personal growth, self-expression, and community building.  

*This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the art and cultural heritage fund.*