A painting that wrote my story
Note from the editor: One of the ways we are deepening our work and expressive arts practice is through expressive arts-based research (EABR). In this week’s newsletter, we are excited to share how this is being shaped through our volunteer program. With only very limited slots per year, the volunteer growth path at Magis is primarily one that cultivates advocacy for the arts. We encourage individuals to find their own story with the arts, because we believe that it is with that story that they find their cause for social change. From there, they can take clear action steps that not only employ a good level of administration of work that is meaningful and ethical, but also with expressive language that is heart-centered and characterized by the responsible use of the expressive arts. A big thank you to Mischka for sharing her story with us.
For most of my life, I often found myself gravitating towards splatters of paint or a pencil in hand during times of self-doubt. It was only recently when the presence of art in my life began to add more value than simply addressing an inkling to blow off steam or free my imagination. During the summer of 2022, I found art’s new purpose in my life - a source of connection.
With a growing interest in psychology and my long-time passion for art, I discovered art therapy. In my efforts to engage my curiosity in this field, I was intrigued by the unique creative-based therapy services offered at Magis. Knowing that this would be the perfect place in which I could learn more about my new-found interest, I became a volunteer at Magis where I was involved in the brainstorming of different artistic projects and self-reflection activities for the planning of new content for upcoming projects. Having the privilege to gain insight into their various avenues for creative expression, bolstered my curiosity in understanding exactly how creative outlets such as art therapy could be used as a method of healing, especially for underprivileged communities.
Later on, I was matched with a licensed art therapist who guided me in understanding the experience and process of art therapy, as well as assisted me in the development of my own therapeutic art program. Through my weekly sessions with Ms. Ina, I learned that different kinds of art mediums can have varying impacts on people and how they feel through the art-making process. The sessions also taught me the importance of the art-making process rather than just focusing on a final creative outcome. As a long-time art student, I have always been fixated on the technical aspect of art and addressing each imperfection in my work to create the best possible outcome.
Through this experience, I was able to rediscover the joys of embracing the art-making process as a means of creative release - an opportunity that I rarely got to experience in my academic pursuits. This embracing of the creative process allowed me to let go of my need for a sense of control and fully embrace the relief I gained from the therapeutic process. For most of my adolescent life, I have used the process of art-making to deal with my anxiety. The creative outlet allowed me to express overwhelming emotions during challenging circumstances. For this reason, I wanted to help others by sharing my appreciation for art’s healing abilities.
During my last summer of high school, I decided to bring what I learned from my volunteer work at Magis to Cameleon, a rehabilitation center for sexually abused girls. A painting that I was working on around the same time, Resiliency of a Woman, was based on the theme of female empowerment, and the prospect of working with Cameleon began to make the piece come alive. The painting, which appears creased and torn in places, to me felt like parts of a woman’s pain: not only marks of suffering, but also an armor of resilience.
Working with an organization like Cameleon was exciting for me because it felt like a place where art would have an impact – similar to how it had an impact on me in my healing journey with and love for art. More specifically, I hoped for an experience where I would witness my belief that when given the right tools such as therapeutic creative outlets, people could become resilient and inspiring members of society. I was excited about being able to spend time making art with everyone there.
The art program I prepared for the girls focused on establishing trust and cooperation, promoting self-awareness and confidence, expressing emotions, and building long-term aspirations. Throughout my two-week stay at the center where I lived with almost 60 girls from ages 6-17, I realized that my embodied experience of the therapeutic impact of art made a difference in how I built connections with them.
There was one girl who stood out to me: one who was often isolated during community gatherings. When I found out that she would be part of my therapeutic art sessions, I wondered if her recluse and soft-spoken demeanor would be a wedge in my ability to connect with her. But I found myself astonished by her profound explanation of her work: a mouthless panda, which she said was a symbol of her inability to express her pain before entering the center. Moved by her unconventional use of leaves and flowers, I was reminded of how powerful a tool art could be in helping me understand others through a more meaningful lens.
When holding our therapeutic art-making sessions, I began to understand the importance of paying attention to little nuances within the art-making process in order to discover ways to connect with others with the help of art. I realized that noticing details in an art piece helped me practice openness and curiosity with the artist, which helped break the ice, start conversations, and make more genuine human connections. I also often found myself paying attention to the body language of the girls, which helped me be more aware of my own. This allowed me to respond to them in ways that fostered better connection; being more mindful about whether to ask questions or return a hug or quietly make art alongside them. Being more aware of the details, I feel gave me a greater capacity for empathy to make space for their stories – deeply felt stories of challenges, betrayal, rediscovery, and mending relationships.
In this overwhelming, yet eye-opening experience at the center, art remained a consistent guiding force. Despite my initial apprehensions about being unable to form connections at the center because of our differences in experiences, art allowed me to learn that we had a lot more in common on a much deeper level. Although we have not experienced the same trauma, we shared the same appreciation for art and its ability to provide comfort, love for family, feelings of isolation, and a yearning for love and connection. My experience with MAGIS gave me a new understanding of the art-making process, a process that was not just about producing art skillfully, but more importantly, a process that could help foster meaningful connections with others. I hope to continue to produce more paintings that will inspire me to embark on new journeys.