A Tale of Two Sculptures
Last year during one of my shows, I observed a lady coming in to look at the artwork as I was talking to someone else. After looking at all the sculptures, she came back to Abased. She stood there for a while. Then she moved towards Freedom and stood there for a while. She went back to Abased, then back to Freedom. I observed while this continued for several minutes.
Abased & Freedom
Done with my conversation I approached the lady and introduced myself. I mentioned I was observing her going back and forth between the two sculptures. She mentioned how the sculptures were almost talking to her in a way she could not understand or articulate. I told the lady the definition of Abased (belittled or degraded). Instantly the conversation took an interesting turn. She said:
“That explains a lot. This is how my husband makes me feel (pointing at Abased) but I want to feel like that (turning and pointing at Freedom).”
Without saying another word, she turned away and left. I was stunned and honestly wished she stayed around longer. I was curious to find out more about what the sculptures were saying (figuratively speaking). Still, three things were clear during this short interaction. First, art has the power to speak to people. People can find a connection in art that generates a silent conversation with the soul, the logic, and the senses. No words are necessary for this connection.
On the other hand, some people need some help when they try to articulate that connection; when they try to understand what they see, what they feel, and what they perceive. While it is not necessary to explain some people seek for a deeper understanding, a hint, a spark that provides and explanation they can ponder. Again, it would be better for art never to be explained. Nevertheless, some people want to express their connection. That cannot be denied. Otherwise, we might be shutting down their interest and a great opportunity to provoke consciousness.
[Read also: How to Explain your Art & Artists are Communicators]
That takes me to the third point: expressing the connection could be the first step towards healing. Too bad the encounter was cut short. When someone understands their internal situation (and sometimes external) through art, and consciously expresses that revelation, healing is possible. Articulating what no words can explain (which not necessarily is a contradiction) could transform a life, and that is one of the most rewarding achievements of art.
[Read also: Art Changing Lives]
Confronted Through Art
Sculpting and Painting Parties
Being exposed and engaged to art and the creative process is not only fun and educational in many instances but also challenging. When I say challenging I am not only referring to the refocus of motor skills, observation, patience, knowledge, and vision into the creation or understanding of an art piece. The greatest challenge comes when the art piece or the process of creating an art piece opens the doors connecting with our fears and deepest emotions. Mental, emotional, and spiritual issues emerge right in front of our eyes. It is interesting to me to observe how people react when confronted through art. It brings me back to what I said many times:
When we think about art as therapy we think about kids,
but is often the adult who grew up hurt who needs it the most.
During my painting and sculpting parties I try to engage people in conversations about life. I rely on humor to present subjects that are often uncomfortable to people to hear. The creative process allows for people to become vulnerable and often scared of what they find when confronted through art. As an educator it is my duty and responsibility to help people understand and make sense of their thoughts and to explain not only how that connection to themselves is possible through the creative process but also how it connects with life. I aim to help people see each situation from different perspectives, just as a sculpture can be looked at from different sides but it is still one piece.
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It is normal for many individuals to avoid confrontations with the self. Many activities we practice in order to escape our daily reality involve avoidance to our deep self. Silence of the mind is scary so we need to add noise. When the noise is directed towards those thoughts and emotions we are trying to avoid then we run towards complete silence or to revert the noise toward others. It is always easier to confront someone else; it is easier to just walk away or simply change the subject. However, avoidance of our thoughts, fears, doubts, or memories of traumatic experiences are not going to make them go away.
Justification and passing along “the blame” for one’s current emotional situation is something I observe when conversations “hit home”. I mentioned in previous posts about attribution theory. Attribution theory explains that when it comes to other people we tend to judge internal attributions as personality traits to explain their behavior. “It is because that person is…” Interestingly, when it comes to explain ourselves we “blame” the environment, or the other gender, or our parents, or whatever is not us and how we understand and cope with our situation.
Some people do allow the confrontation and, better yet, show the maturity to face themselves and give a step towards healing and improvement, towards forgiveness, towards understanding the antecedents without succumbing to them but as a stepping stone to a better life. That is also the beauty of art: not that art is going to solve our problems but that it helps us see them and open up. As I learn more about the connection between creativity, neuroscience, and resiliency, and how it connects with our souls and spirits, with our bodies and life, the more intrigue I get about how people cope with their situations when they are confronted through art. Even more, I get more intrigue about how I can I be part of people’s restoration and transformation.
Join one of our sculpting or painting parties