July 21, 2003

  • Art is Therapuetic, Not Therapy


    I'm still working my way through Julia Cameron's Walking in this World.  She has a subsection in her chapter on the Sense of Perspective on the relationship between art and therapy.  It's a good topic for consideration because the practice of art and therapy both have in common the transformation of the practitioner. 


    I see therapy as essentially a destructive process.  Tear down and leave behind the illusions, the misconceptions, the distortions, and the errors of our coneption of reality.  Healing occurs through painful examination and exposure.  Art transforms us gently, as a by-product of the creative impulse.  Building our vision, painting our reality, giving voice to the song inside empowers and lifts us from where we are to the next level on the rung of life.  But we are only tranformed by our art when we are focused on the creation, not the transformation.  When we attempt to use writing, painting, or composing for a therapeutic end, we get neither art, nor healing. 


    I hope for all of you, my artistic friends, that you will envision, create, and build.  And the next time I meet you, I'll get to know you fresh and new because you are the art you make.     

Comments (26)

  • ah art! I love it.  It is very theraputic for me.  I love lsing myself in creating and coming out with a new awareness!!

  • Makes perfect sense but I can't say that I had ever before seen the connection or rather differences.

  • We are always looking for good articles, especially about writing if you'd be interested in giving WCP a try. We could also use the occassional book review on newer material.

    Thanks for the cyber hug you left on my blog today.

    Faith

  • Yes!

  • Hey, what an insightful perspective on art and/vs therapy! Thanks. I'm gonna re-read and ponder your wise words... -- Lise

  • Same to you!!

    This post made me grin because my new psychiatrist is always going on and on and on about how I'm a creative person and I need to like give in to my creativity and just go create stuff cuz that's what I do lol

  • I took a hard knock recently and now I have to heal myself. In my case, what helps me is what hurt me-- or I should say is what caused me to be hurt.

    Nice blog.

  • Hi,

    I've just begun doing artwork and I LOVE IT! Something new to learn and help me grow. I don't usually think of things in terms of healing ... just Learning and Growing.

    Thanks for visiting and your very kind comments. I love your site and I will be back.

    Rich

  • Thanks so much for your kind welcome to Xanga! 

    I have never been artistic although I do try at times.  Your page is awesome..:)

  • o/

    God Bless - Dale

  • Mike

  • true words. Thanks for sharing!

  • I agree to the extent that TRUE catharsis is something that goes far beyond "therapy" and truly can lead to healing.  As such, it cannot be actively sought, but instead only yielded to...

  • You are a very insightful person Doll.

    Thanks so much for the positive comment on my page. I didn't mean to bring up such a toxic subject and I hope I didn't offend anyone by doing so.

    I spent years in therapy and it didn't do a thing for me excpet make the wallet a whole lot lighter. *sigh*

  • The therapeutic effect of art comes from the practice of it, employing the skills that translate vision (amorphous as it may be) to a visual - or audio - reality.

    But this excludes all those without those skills. Either cos they are a cack-handed lot or because of a disability that prevents them 'doing'.  They have the same visions, they are not less artists.

    So an artist is one who sees, its a way of seeing.  That might even be counter-productive for the therapeutic process.  Hmm? 

    I seem to have gone that age old path right up my own a*hole.  Oh dear

  • Nice compliment to you from McCammon above   Well-deserved too.

  • If art is therapy and clears ones mind ,I reckon my attempt at all the abstract stuff lately must be clearing a lot of nonsense out of mine. Cheers Portia

  • How on earth are you!!! I just thought I would stop in and say howdy!!!

    I hope things are going good for you and get over to Mccammons site and submit your work!!!!

    tina

  • In the book I transcribed for the Big Guy I was taken by His description of our lives as Masterpieces waiting for us to create, mold and shape them.  Thank You for this post which adds even more definition to the concept.

    Glad You're safe.

    Love and Light

    Mara

  • I agree completely about art, but I am wondering about therapy.  Can it not be considered a constructive process; a rebuilding; a widening of the vista?  Or perhaps this is just a perception of mine that needs tearing down .  In any case:  YES on art. 

  • Yes! Yes! YES! I think therapy is the complete wrong way to go. I like to look at people as poems, and we do no justice to the poetry within ourselves when we always turn to "experts" to get rid of our pain. How are we ever supposed to feel better when we don't trust the poetry within? We believe we need an expert for everything. What we need is to let the art that is in each of us express itself. Sometimes our pain is there for a reason, and by concentrating on getting rid of it, we may be getting rid of an angel.

  • heyy ~ wsup !! u qot on featured c0ntent !! ;o)

     Featured Content
    Gz_uPz_hoEz_DoWnZ 9:23 PM
    ugh_itz_paul 5:40 PM
    iBabyJeW3Lz 9:38 PM 
    quiltnmomi 2:01 PM
    krisjoy2 11:45 AM
    more featured content

  • I agree with you completely on art NOT being therapy. That goes for enjoyment of it too, not just creating it. Life is meant to be lived. It's not something we are meant to find "stuff" to fill - it should fill us.

    You are such a bright star. I am sorry it's been so long since I visited here. I love the new walls. It feels comfy and relaxing, and thank you for reminding me to come and visit you.

  • props..prop back

  • Now that's definitely worth further thought.  Thanks!

Comments are closed.

Post a Comment