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“Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.” Agnes Martin
“My life and art have not been separated. They have been together.” Eva Hesse
Art. What comes to mind when you think of this? If you are like me, you may recall paintings, sculptures, installations, or performances that have moved you. If so, how exactly did these pieces touch you, interacting internally with some private experience while you, a spectator, observed?
As an artist, art therapist, and someone who just completed doctoral study in clinical psychology, I strongly believe in art’s ability to capture human experience. Art has an unparalleled power to reach people, to communicate what is difficult to express in words, to transcend, to touch and move us. When we observe art in person, either at a museum or local gallery, something almost magical, and at times even spiritual and psychological, can happen. Art makes us feel, and can interact with us to stir our own pain, sadness, grief, longing, and also joy, curiosity, peace, and wonder.
The list of artists, who have used their work to express their own personal experiences, or even universal human experiences, is endless. Ana Mendieta, Eva Hesse, Frida Kahlo, Mark Rothko, Rachel Whiteread, Tracy Emin, and Marina Abramovic are among them. Their work is powerful. When I view such works in person, I experience something emotional, moving, and difficult to put into words. That is the unique nature of art— words are not needed to convey its abilities, or to express that which we desire to, and often must, say.
One can merely be a spectator to benefit from art; indeed, this is one reason why artists exist and create. Yet there is another benefit of art that is accessible to us all: that is, to create art oneself, thereby externalizing one’s internal experiences into physical form. Many of you might be thinking, “I can’t draw” or “I’m not an artist.” However, there is no need to be an artist to benefit from the creative process. All that you need is the desire to express and explore, and an openness to see what emerges.
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) defines art therapy as “a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the Art Therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.” Art therapy is different from the more “verbal” psychotherapies because it relies on nonverbal ways of communicating. Often, it is difficult to put internal experiences into words, and this is where the art comes in. If you are interested in engaging in such a process, you may find it beneficial to work with an art therapist. Art therapists are professionals trained in both “verbal” and nonverbal modes of psychotherapy, and can aid you in your path towards healing and self-understanding through the art.
You may also benefit from art making on your own. Carl Jung, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, created his own mandalas for self-awareness, and encouraged his clients to as well. Art therapists use mandalas often, as benefits include anxiety reduction and safe containment of difficult feelings. Mandalas also have implications for mindfulness and acceptance, and can be used as meditative tools (in fact, they are often used in Buddhist practices). There even are mandala coloring books available, if you aren’t quite ready to delve into creating your own!
If you are feeling adventurous, are artistically inclined, or want to formally learn how to create, you may consider enrolling in a class. The Fleischer Memorial Art Center in Philadelphia is a great resource for low-cost art courses, such as painting, drawing, printmaking, and pottery. Another option is to look into local colleges for fine arts course offerings. You may find that tapping into your own creative process fosters stress reduction, self-awareness, self-acceptance, promotes self-care, and is, of course, fun! And who can’t benefit from having a little bit more of those things in one’s life?
To find an art therapist, visit www.atcb.org/Home/FindACredentialedArtTherapist. Continued...
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