Image 1 is my final mandala from Hermeneutics; Image 2-4 is my self box from History of Art Therapy; Image 4 is a collage of Thich Nhat Hahn made for my Consciousness II Light Figure Scrapbook.
Throughout this program I think what stands out for me is how my relationship to art making has changed. Before I started studying Art Therapy art making was more about the concept and what the product was going to be. It’s changed to become more about the process and what am I feeling while making. This transformation has been freeing for me. I’ve let go of the idea that my art doesn't have to really say or do anything, its all about me and what am I transforming while making art. It doesn’t have to be perfect it is more about catharsis and connection to myself, the materials, and spirit. Some art pieces I feel reflect this transformation are my self-box from History of Art Therapy and my final mandala from Hermeneutics.
Creating the self-box was the first time I was ever given a directive to make something that represents myself and the complexities of who I am. I really thought a lot about my own boundaries and what I felt ok sharing with others vs what I wanted to keep to myself. I also was challenged by vulnerability for the first time. I found myself questioning, how do I share myself authentically? It was a moment of challenge for me but opened the doorway to themes I would deal with throughout the program. It was important for me to be upfront about who I am. This box for me represents my challenges with vulnerability and how the exterior can seem hard, closed off, yet beautiful. However, there is a way inside that is grounded, cozy, and intimate. Its inside the box where you can really see my true self, my identity as a spiritual person, connected to the earth.
The evolution of this box did not end in History of Art Therapy, I have used this box as an item on my altar and leave little offerings inside. During my lineage project studying Italian witchcraft (my ancestry) I realized that Strega witches would leave little house structures in the corner of their homes as an altar space for the fairies. There they would leave offerings and it would serve as a space of connection. Learning that brought a whole other level of purpose and sentimentality to my self-box, it didn’t feel like a coincidence. It felt like part of myself, spirit, or my ancestors worked in collaboration with me opening a doorway to discover deep connection with old ways of being.
My final mandala from Hermeneutics is a powerful piece for me. It feels very striking, and I think it’s one of the first times I realized my inner strength and depicted it through art. This piece also represents my connection to spirit, and my capacity to love myself and those around me. I made this right at the beginning of the pandemic when connection and love was so needed. Through this class I was really processing how my capacity for love was profoundly deep, but it felt like an untapped resource. It was through this piece I realized love is a strength and my capacity to love comes from my support from my ancestors, guides, and spirit. I felt like I was making a proclamation that I am a being of love, I am strong, and I am supported. Which was a profound thing for me to own.
Another transformation process in my art making was using art to become present with myself, the materials, and with spirit. Connecting to presence in mindfulness. My relationship and understanding of mindfulness has totally evolved throughout the program. It began as a seed before the program where I associated it with meditation. Then I learned about it as a therapeutic tool (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) in Foundations and Theories of Art Therapy. Through that I realized mindfulness can be used to change behavior and process emotions. Being present and accepting who we are can be healing. Then I made a zine about Mindfulness for my Creative Public Stance project. That process felt like it was more about making mindfulness accessible and expanding beyond meditation. Mindfulness was also the topic for my Group Facilitation in Group Dynamics. Through that I experienced how to be a facilitator and guide others to experience presence. I also discovered the benefit of being a grounded and present therapist. In my facilitation I was also able to incorporate nature and art in the experiential’s. Using those tools to observe, focus on breath, and understand foundational elements that evoke mindfulness. It all came full circle when I chose Thich Nhat Hahn as my light figure. Through that project I learned to be a student of Mindfulness from a master. I gained an understanding that Mindfulness is a way of being. It was through the Light Figure project that I adopted the concept of Interbeing, that we are all connected. I am because you are, and all I can do is be here and accept. This progression of understanding Mindfulness embodies transforming consciousness through education.