THE DREAM MACHINE
RELAX, PLAY, CREATE.
Projects
At the Dream Machine, we endeavour to support our community through creativity as our motto suggests we do this in three ways relaxation, play and creativity. Below you will see examples of the projects that we have created under the headings relax, play and create.
RELAX
Relaxation is considered inherently important for our wellbeing this has been proven by many researchers over and over, yet often in contemporary life we often neglect our own relaxation, this can effect us negatively. At the Dream Machine we provide a space tailored to relaxation the Dream Room. By recognising that there is no one way to relax the Dream Machine and its Dream Room allow for a range of setups to meet the bespoke needs of its users, below are some of our own offerings to support relaxation in our community.
Sensory Sundays
Over many weeks the Dream Machine provided sensory experiences for its community, within a safe, warm and comfortable environment ensured by its soft heated flooring, ambient music, lighting and serine visuals. Participants used these Sundays as protected time for their relaxation. This session supported anyone seeking peace to centre themselves by giving them time to turn inwards and reflect.
Hibernation Sunday
Hibernation was a one-hour session giving its participants the opportunity to escape wet and often dark life in Glasgow city and experience a purpose made sensory show depicting a winter odyssey. In this session participants minds were allowed to wander off within a magical winter themed light, sound and image-based experience, all from the comfort of an inflatable chair in a heated room with a soft blanket. This indulgent experience was made to provide participants with the comfort that Winter requires.
Go Deeper Sunday
Go Deeper explored simplicity, repetition and vibration over a one-hour session, as the floor gradually warmed, morphing abstract projections and sounds filled the room and participants’ experiences. This session allowed participants time to explore themselves by entering a slower deeper state of being, allowing space for reflection and relaxation before slowly returning to the surface and their everyday lives. Participants brought back insights from their time reflecting. In articulating these newfound understandings participants were invited to explore any new found thoughts or ideas using art supplies, and construction materials.
PLAY
Like relaxation play is a vital part of human life and wellbeing, At the Dream Machine we endeavour to support play for participants. Using a variety of technology and equipment the Dream Machine can create the environments that supports playfulness in its guests, giving theme the vital time, they need to just have fun.
Microraves
In 2019 the Dream Machine provided multiple day-time raves allowing participants to exercise and socialise, giving them a healthy start to the weekend. The projects inspiration came from a desire to counteract the self-destructive actions that often accompany rave culture, by giving participants a safe and healthy, alcohol and drug free space to just dance. These raves provided a space for adults who missed dancing but not the unhealthy actions a night out on the town can bring. Its benefits were two-pronged supporting participants wellbeing through exercise and socialisation elements that have supported wellbeing throughout human history.
CREATE
Creativity is an inherently human activity that supports our wellbeing, it helps us problem solve, relax and create meaning and value in our lives. The Dream Machine understands creativity as more than just traditional artforms but as all forms of creativity from poetry, painting and drama all the way to cooking and design. We endeavour to support all of these forms of creativity in our community
Family Creative Sundays
The Dream Machine held family creative sessions weekly in the Dream Room allowing little ones and their parents to explore creativity in a safe and comfortable environment together. Using an assortment of creative tools such as Lego, paints, markers, paper and other creative toys families are invited to create together. In this session, parents were able to spend quality time with their children surrounded by an assortment of relaxing imagery and sound. Such creative activities are thought to support children’s development. In helping our youngest have access to creativity we hope to support them throughout their lives by giving them the adaptable tool of creativity to support their wellbeing throughout their lives.
Online Arts Groups-Research
Over the lockdown of 2020, the Dream Machine conducted a research project exploring online engagement in creativity. To do this a prototype online arts group was designed with an emphasis on supporting wellbeing during this challenging time. The project also explored best practices for supporting wellbeing in the online arts group with a variety of practitioners and participants. all of this yielded an array of insights and practical guidance for practitioners, as well as beautiful artworks that explored the research context.