[ a&e ] THE LEAF | FRIDAY, DEC. 29 | SHSLEAF.ORG
Peaceful paradise Art therapy helps heal the mind Adhiti Chundur staff writer
Melinda LOONEY staff writer
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rt goes back thousands of years. Evolving from paintings on cave walls to Greek sculptures, impressionism, pop art and contemporary art. Besides the traditional mediums, art also encompasses theatre, music, and photography. For many, art is a way to relax, wind down and take a break from reality. Art therapy is a growing field, originating around the 1940s. It helps diagnose or talk through problems using art. Associate Professors Kim Taylor and Dr. Meera Rastogi teach an ‘Intro to Art Therapy’ course at the University of Cincinnati.
What is art therapy?
Art therapy is a way for people not able to verbalize what is wrong, to communicate with others. “It is really interesting how it can serve as a bridge for communication in a therapeutic setting, and many other settings. In terms of therapy, a therapist will see these drawings and how the patient is working with these materials, and then will be able to assess their psychological condition,” Taylor said.
Everyone can benefit
Art therapy is becoming more widespread and can be used for elderly with Alzheimer’s, children who have severe illnesses, and people who have suffered trauma or the loss of a loved one. “There was a man who had cancer and was having trouble
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Fluid, expressive media, such as ink and paint are harder to control, and are often preferred by emotional people. People who like to think things through go for pencils and markers, where they are more in control. Harsh lines and light, often erased lines will help a therapist understand a patient, because that often shows certain feelings that are coming through.
talking about it. His art therapist had him draw what cancer looks like and he made a drawing of this scary monster. Once he had that image, he was able to talk about his frustration through the drawing,” Taylor said. Art therapy also helps teenagers dealing with depression. “A common theme I have seen with my many patients is loneliness,” Rastogi said. This is linked with depression, which about 20 percent of teens suffer from and may lead to suicide. Art therapy helps share bottled up emotions to decrease
Guest artist Clint Woods and his daughter demonstrate his style of art. He first splatters water on the paper and then makes patterns using ink and a paper towel. After the ink and water has dried, he draws a scene incorporating the ink splatters. His work is time-consuming and incredibly detailed. Certain pieces can take months to complete.
that risk.
How it works
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is developing a music therapy program. “It could be anything like going into hospitals and singing with kids to lift up their mood, giving them instruments to play, or listening to music. There is also dance therapy, and drama therapy, where people act out what is going on psychologically and play therapy that you use with young kids,” Rastogi said. If a patient is a little shy, the therapist may let them spend more time doing art than talking.
THE LEAF | FRIDAY, DEC. 29 | SHSLEAF.COM But for a more outgoing patient, there may be more talking involved. The goal is to make the person feel comfortable and relaxed. For people who are intimidated to express something through art, collages are seen in a lot of art therapy settings. “My advice is to always keep doing it. It will become more intuitive and less intimidating. You have to exercise your creative muscles: the more you do it, the more proficient you will become,” Taylor said. Art therapy enables people to break down the verbal barrier and use a whole new path of communication. “I have always felt that art has the capacity to bridge gaps and bring people together and even make people feel better about themselves just by doing art. That part of it is just a nice affirmation,” Taylor said.
The Red Book
The Red Book, by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, is a compilation of hallucinations and dreams mixed with a fantasy stories. The book contains stunning, detailed illustrations, resembling the style of medieval manuscripts. He studied under Sigmund Freud, but eventually went off on his own. Jung believed that our subconscious motivated our behavior, and that it was important to understand our feelings and reasons behind actions. The Red Book enabled Jung to analyze his dreams and psychology. It was based on Jung’s thoughts and dreams from a period when he was going through a personal crisis. It has a plotline of a man going through a journey with many obstacles. However, after he finished it, the book was locked up. Few people where able to read it until it’s recent publication.
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Forms of art therapy Collages An assortment of different materials or photos pasted together on a piece of paper create a collage. Anyone can make a collage; it is a great way to be introduced into art, and is very accessible. They are easy because they require no background knowledge and very few materials. Collages can be used to represent future dreams, goals, or can just be a collection of anything that peaks people’s interest.
Performance art Performance art, although not neccessarily a traditional 2D/3D physical piece, serves as a good icebreaker in an art therapy setting. “Art does not have to be a drawing, it does not have to be pencil and paper, or paint on a canvas. It can be a lot of other materials, and a lot of other approaches,”
Dream journals Some people keep a dream journal beside their beds. Recording dreams right after they happen allows for more vivid memories and recollections and is easier to turn the dream into an art piece such as a drawing or clay sculpture. This helps people to have a better understanding of their current emotions and thoughts.
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All Photos Courtesy of Adhiti Chundur and Melinda Looney