During this Artful Healing offering, we will be learning how to let go and release using the creative process. In this sculpture, Up and Over by Martin Puryear, we see a figure made of iron that is folded in on itself. Like this image, many of us have learned to avoid and push down difficult emotions; we close up in self-protection.We think that if we disown these feelings that they will go away. In order to heal and move forward, we must find ways to open ourselves up so that we can honor the truth of how we feel. Today we will learn a drawing process that assists us in releasing the blocked energy that a painful emotion creates in the body so that we are able to deactivate the stress response and make choices from a conscious place moving forward.
Recommended Materials:
- Lined or white paper for writing
- Pen or pencil
- Paper for drawing – 8 1/2 X 11 (you may use smaller or larger paper depending on what feels right for you and what you have available)
- Chalk or oil pastels (may be substituted by other drawing materials)
- Damp paper towel or washcloth for cleaning your hands
*The materials listed above are only a recommendation. Feel free to use the art materials that you have on hand at home or that you are inspired to use.
Artful Healing provides an opportunity to practice a series of hands-on activities inspired by artworks in the galleries. Bodhi Simpson, LCPC, ATR, is an art therapist with a private practice in Waterville, Maine, called Conscious Art Therapy. She is also a teaching artist, an adjunct college instructor, and a workshop and retreat facilitator who incorporates creative expression and work with imagination, intuition, and metaphor into the healing process.
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During each Artful Healing session, Bodhi will gently guide participants through a 30-minute creative healing exercise inspired by a work in the Museum’s collection under a monthly theme. This offering will support the development of creative expression, increase your self-awareness, and teach you simple tools to support your emotional wellbeing.
This program is part of the Museum’s wellness initiative, Let Art Inspire, which includes a variety of programs that connect the mind, body, and art in innovative ways. Currently, there are three Let Art Inspire programs, Artful Movements on the first Saturday of each month, Artful Meditation on the second Wednesday of each month, and Artful Healing on the third Monday of each month.
While we are closed to the general public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ll bring Artful Healing to you in the safety, comfort, and convenience of your home. Artful Healing is available online through the Museum’s website and Facebook page.
Learn more about Bodhi and sign up for her blog at www.consciousarttherapy.com.
For questions, please contact Jordia Benjamin.