Painting Adoption Weekend

Painting Adoption Weekend (PAW) is a weekend long event April 29th- 30th, 2107 that brings together youth adoptees between the ages of 6–18 (K-12) from around the Ithaca, NY area to use art as a tool to talk about the psychological, emotional, and mental-health related to their status as a adoptees.

As a community-based collaboration between Asian Pacific Americans for Action (APAA), Cornell Partnership Funding Board of Cornell University (CPFB), and Sarah Gotowka (Textile Artist based in Trumansburg) we are excited to combine youthful energy, local professional expertise, and support from local institutions to make this weekend a great success.

Using methodologies based in creative arts and community building, facilitators and attendees will cultivate a safe environment to explore their own experiences and relationships with adoption. Traditionally mediums such as painting, weaving, dancing, and embroidery have been platforms for intimate discussions and reflective conversations. Through learning and practicing these mediums, attendees can find outlets to fully express themselves throughout the weekend. As attendees and facilitators exchange experiences and reactions, the goal will be to create a sense of communal understanding and support that will live on past the weekend as adoptees continue on their own adoption journey.