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Art therapy
Art Psychotherapy,
Vol. 5 pp. 11-12,
Pergamon
Press. 1978.
Printed
in the U.S.A.
ART THERAPY* DON JONES, ATR President,
American
The future of the creative arts in therapy is related to the future of the arts because the process is identical whether we are attempting to make a person well, or “Weller-than-well” to echo a phrase often used by Dr. Karl Menninger to describe the role of creative arts activity in MiIieu therapy treatment. The future of the arts is guaranteed because art is elemental . . . like the assurance that the sun will rise whether described as Apollo’s chariots, “rosy fingered dawn” or the sun revolving arount the earth is incidental to the recurring phenomenon. The recognition and acceptance of the creative arts is ~~~e~~ because of the growing sensitivity to the necessity of art as a basic human adaptive process. In addition, researchers are now saying that “the absence of arts programs can retard brain development in children.” (“Why Children Should Draw, the Surprising Link Between Art and Learning” - Saturdry Review 9/3/77) Contemporary psychologists and brain anatomists are implying that some areas of the brain can be reached best and function expressed c&y in art forms. Certainly from the beginnings of civilization the rituals, metaphors, and sacraments of the rites of passage have been expressed in art forms. Humankind has been enabled to comprehend the great mysteries of life and death through the use of evocative Arts expression. Analytic psychiatry long ago reinforced the same notion that arts activity cannot be separated from life. Creative arts activity was and is used in treatment because it provides infinite elaboration and cons?ructive adQpra~joi1of primq? process imp~ise. More directly stated, creative arts activity is a civilizing force. (I will return to these definitions.) To bring this idea to focus. I am daring to suggest *Requests for reprints should be sent Road. Worthington, Ohio 43085.
to Don Jones,
ATR,
Art Therapy
Association
that my personal experience as an artist might be a microcosm from which to draw some conclusions about the future of the creative arts in therapy. I entered’ into this world of psychiatry and patients as an artist having confirmed intuitively the value of creative experssion for me. I discovered that the patients produced graphic expressions, not out of boredom or demand but out of inner impulse and necessity. Walls; halls and tunnels of the institution where 1 worked were covered with elaborate graphics conveying hope, hurt and tumultuous anxiety. It was more than graffiti. It was “soul language.” Gradually, I learned to interpret and ultimately to understand and to communicate with these deserted, desolate aliens. Conscious use of art as therapy began with me here. As more and more performing artists are sponsored by the funds of Foundations and governmental agencies for the purpose of brining art to special populations, I beiieve they, too, will be exposed to and learn the “lost” language of primary process. The artists’ attitudes and knowledge of their crafts will be enriched. Interestingly, as I stated recently in the video tape, Draw From ~~r~jn, presented at the Rockefeller Symposium II, “I am artist still, although with considerable scientific knowledge and skill in understanding human behavior.” 1 have gone full circle from artist to artisttherapist, to therap@, to artist who now focuses more on the processes of elaboration and constructive adaptation of primary process than on the product or performance. But, of course, the performing artist, intuitively, Director,
Adjunctive
00909092i78/0108-0011$02.00/0 Copyright B 1978 Pergamon press,
inc.
Therapy,
Harding
Hospital,
445 E. Granville
DON JONES provides that same experience vicariously for his viewer audience. The mainstream traveled by both art therapist and art performer is creative expression. The government’s interest in the arts as expressed by the White House Commission on Mental Health is stiil extremely limited in perspective but it is a constructive beginning. By insisting on the constitutional rights of all citizens to the pursuit of happiness, our government is saying that art is not to be denied to any person and must be provided to special circumstances and populations. This is hopeful because when this happens, suddenly, inevitably because of the elemental influence of the creative act (even experienced vicariously) these people will not only be entertained but will be influenced therapeutically. This is richly illustrated in a recent H.A.I. film which records the responses and reactions of such captive audiences. The identity crisis is here in the inevitable collision of perfo~ing artist and arts therapist. The resolution of this conflict within myself as an individual was more easily achieved than may be possible among many groups of expressive and even eccentric people involved. A broader perspective is essential. All must be able to tolerate the anxiety and tensions necessary in the process of collaborations and fusion. It is not a
time to chalk boundary lines nor to construct barriers. The mainstream which sustains both artist and therapist using arts activity is art. Returning to the definition stated earlier, art is a civilizing force, an infinite elaboration and constructive adaptation of basic human impulses into socially acceptable forms of communication. The future, in my opinion and from my personal experience, is hopeful - even attractive. The artist performing for special populations will be influenced and moved to change and become more knowledgeable in the conscious application of his craft. The arts therapist will be challenged to deepen his insight and perfect his skills. Perhaps the trend toward art psychotherapy is positive evidence of this push. Does it mean increased specialization in arts therapy? Perhaps . . Certainly, the money available is limited. The question which should challenge us most is not “How can we protect the use of creative arts as therapy?” as if we owned art. Rather. the larger question of lonely. remains -- “How can the multitudes suffering, alienated people best be engaged in creative acts of self healing?”
Vol. 5 pp. 11-12,
Pergamon
Press. 1978.
Printed
in the U.S.A.
ART THERAPY* DON JONES, ATR President,
American
The future of the creative arts in therapy is related to the future of the arts because the process is identical whether we are attempting to make a person well, or “Weller-than-well” to echo a phrase often used by Dr. Karl Menninger to describe the role of creative arts activity in MiIieu therapy treatment. The future of the arts is guaranteed because art is elemental . . . like the assurance that the sun will rise whether described as Apollo’s chariots, “rosy fingered dawn” or the sun revolving arount the earth is incidental to the recurring phenomenon. The recognition and acceptance of the creative arts is ~~~e~~ because of the growing sensitivity to the necessity of art as a basic human adaptive process. In addition, researchers are now saying that “the absence of arts programs can retard brain development in children.” (“Why Children Should Draw, the Surprising Link Between Art and Learning” - Saturdry Review 9/3/77) Contemporary psychologists and brain anatomists are implying that some areas of the brain can be reached best and function expressed c&y in art forms. Certainly from the beginnings of civilization the rituals, metaphors, and sacraments of the rites of passage have been expressed in art forms. Humankind has been enabled to comprehend the great mysteries of life and death through the use of evocative Arts expression. Analytic psychiatry long ago reinforced the same notion that arts activity cannot be separated from life. Creative arts activity was and is used in treatment because it provides infinite elaboration and cons?ructive adQpra~joi1of primq? process imp~ise. More directly stated, creative arts activity is a civilizing force. (I will return to these definitions.) To bring this idea to focus. I am daring to suggest *Requests for reprints should be sent Road. Worthington, Ohio 43085.
to Don Jones,
ATR,
Art Therapy
Association
that my personal experience as an artist might be a microcosm from which to draw some conclusions about the future of the creative arts in therapy. I entered’ into this world of psychiatry and patients as an artist having confirmed intuitively the value of creative experssion for me. I discovered that the patients produced graphic expressions, not out of boredom or demand but out of inner impulse and necessity. Walls; halls and tunnels of the institution where 1 worked were covered with elaborate graphics conveying hope, hurt and tumultuous anxiety. It was more than graffiti. It was “soul language.” Gradually, I learned to interpret and ultimately to understand and to communicate with these deserted, desolate aliens. Conscious use of art as therapy began with me here. As more and more performing artists are sponsored by the funds of Foundations and governmental agencies for the purpose of brining art to special populations, I beiieve they, too, will be exposed to and learn the “lost” language of primary process. The artists’ attitudes and knowledge of their crafts will be enriched. Interestingly, as I stated recently in the video tape, Draw From ~~r~jn, presented at the Rockefeller Symposium II, “I am artist still, although with considerable scientific knowledge and skill in understanding human behavior.” 1 have gone full circle from artist to artisttherapist, to therap@, to artist who now focuses more on the processes of elaboration and constructive adaptation of primary process than on the product or performance. But, of course, the performing artist, intuitively, Director,
Adjunctive
00909092i78/0108-0011$02.00/0 Copyright B 1978 Pergamon press,
inc.
Therapy,
Harding
Hospital,
445 E. Granville
DON JONES provides that same experience vicariously for his viewer audience. The mainstream traveled by both art therapist and art performer is creative expression. The government’s interest in the arts as expressed by the White House Commission on Mental Health is stiil extremely limited in perspective but it is a constructive beginning. By insisting on the constitutional rights of all citizens to the pursuit of happiness, our government is saying that art is not to be denied to any person and must be provided to special circumstances and populations. This is hopeful because when this happens, suddenly, inevitably because of the elemental influence of the creative act (even experienced vicariously) these people will not only be entertained but will be influenced therapeutically. This is richly illustrated in a recent H.A.I. film which records the responses and reactions of such captive audiences. The identity crisis is here in the inevitable collision of perfo~ing artist and arts therapist. The resolution of this conflict within myself as an individual was more easily achieved than may be possible among many groups of expressive and even eccentric people involved. A broader perspective is essential. All must be able to tolerate the anxiety and tensions necessary in the process of collaborations and fusion. It is not a
time to chalk boundary lines nor to construct barriers. The mainstream which sustains both artist and therapist using arts activity is art. Returning to the definition stated earlier, art is a civilizing force, an infinite elaboration and constructive adaptation of basic human impulses into socially acceptable forms of communication. The future, in my opinion and from my personal experience, is hopeful - even attractive. The artist performing for special populations will be influenced and moved to change and become more knowledgeable in the conscious application of his craft. The arts therapist will be challenged to deepen his insight and perfect his skills. Perhaps the trend toward art psychotherapy is positive evidence of this push. Does it mean increased specialization in arts therapy? Perhaps . . Certainly, the money available is limited. The question which should challenge us most is not “How can we protect the use of creative arts as therapy?” as if we owned art. Rather. the larger question of lonely. remains -- “How can the multitudes suffering, alienated people best be engaged in creative acts of self healing?”