Evolution. Healing. When I began doing expressive arts, and when I started this blog, it never occurred to me that I would begin to take myself seriously as an actual artist. I call myself an artist, because I do make art. But there is this whole other world of art that I have not participated in. So I’ve never felt […]
Is it time to share your work with others?
Safety, privacy and sacred space
There is that cliche, “dance like no one’s watching.” Have you ever actually tried it? Have you ever created visual art, knowing you will show it to no one, maybe even destroy it? Writing in a diary, dancing alone, making private art…this is dialogue with ourselves and our spiritual extension. If you’ve tried it, then perhaps you have come […]
Authenticity for us privileged white folk
Last week I explored the theme Marginalization/Belonging. It has me thinking about times I’ve felt like I belonged, and times (and ways) that I felt deliberately excluded. What is coming up is how often I marginalize myself, and that it is often just in my head. And that in order to belong or fit in, I tone myself down. I have the […]
How to deeply explore your inner world
Original, fresh, new, innovative, groundbreaking. Fuck ’em. Find your myths. Find your idols, symbols, guardians, guides, angels, totems, whatever you want to call them. Call them cliches if you want. Find YOUR cliches, and love them, squeeze them and hold them tight. What reoccurs in your dreams? Moments of synchronicity? What image do find yourself spontaneously drawing, even if you […]
Creative solitude vs. creative community
Remember a few weeks ago when I was like “woo hoo! I’m starting my arts-based research project! Yeah!” Now, picture Eeyore. “Ho hum. I’m working on my research. No one cares. Poor me.” Which isn’t true at all. I know I am supported. But after years of learning and creating as part of various communities, I am realizing that doing […]
Authenticity/Conforming: exploring identity
I’m doing arts-based research. It was hard to start, lots of doubts. The first theme I am exploring is Authenticity/Conforming. I did an active imagination writing, and then played with some of the symbols that stuck out: a tree, a white bird, a glass sphere. As I created the images, it was hard not to constantly, anxiously look for a nugget […]
Blasting away unhealthy assumptions through drawing
For years, I have been stuck behind a veil. I saw others, and then I saw myself. They were over there, I was over here. No one pushed me out, no one said anything mean. They just said nothing. That silence that could be interpreted as passive aggression. At least, that is how I interpreted it. I didn’t think I […]
Excavating our identity
Next week, I will be starting the arts-based research portion of my master’s degree. No doubt my findings will make their way to this blog. However, I am creating a little bubble of safety for myself, because I will be exploring aspects of my identity that are in conflict with each other. One of the arts-based research strategies I […]
I’m scared of you. I’m scared of me.
Uptight Art Projects Do you think it is important that someone who is using the arts as a form of healing actually be an expert in that mode? Should art therapists be artists? What happens if they aren’t, and really don’t understand how to make art? Sometimes when I am out and about on the web, I come across prompts […]
Midlife crisis, art, and saving the world
Warning: I cuss in this blog post. And it meanders. Sorry. Why make art? Why dance? Why sing? Why write? To make a living? To show off? To heal? To relax? To be comfortable? To have a pretty home? Did I ever tell you about my mid-life crisis? Boy, did I love mine. I don’t have the patience to write […]