A rareinsider account of the creative and therapeutic processes informing art therapyis currently on show at Space2b, a social enterprise gallery in St Kildasupporting newly arrived migrants and refugees.
Art of Process is a group exhibition showcasing thework of 17 arts’ therapists exploring their own creative and therapeutic processthrough a diverse collection of 2D and 3D works. The accompanying catalogueilluminates the work through written commentary by each artist/therapist.
"Art therapyis an arts-based psychotherapy that is winning support among clinicians in manyfields. While it is long established in mental health settings, art therapy haswide application in health, education and community sectors and for individualexploration and growth," said Ms Sue Guzic, coordinator of the exhibition.
"Art therapyis much more than colouring", Ms Guzic said. "It is a considered approach toexploring meaning-making for individuals that can be applied in processingtrauma, addressing grief and loss, managing addictions, relieving stress andanxiety or simply expressing individual needs and feelings."
Practisingarts therapists undergo rigorous training – usually to Masters level – and arerequired to abide by a stringent code of ethics and maintain practice standardsthrough ongoing professional development.
Art therapyhas won recent attention here and in the US as a positive intervention for warveterans suffering the effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), butthere are many applications and client groups. It is often particularlyeffective in working with those who are unable or unwilling to speak as aresult of abuse and/or trauma.
The work inthis exhibition gives rare insight into the link between art therapists’ owncreative process and how they approach the therapeutic aspects of their work.
Artof Process will runfor three weeks from 16 February to 10 March at Space2b:
144 Chapel Street StKilda.
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