During this time of uncertainty, as we come together in flattening the curve to this pandemic, art has been making its way across the globe. Pictures of rainbows and hearts that children and their family’s created are taped to their home windows and front doors, and chalk drawings are seen on sidewalks in neighborhoods offering messages of inspiration, hope and gratitude towards our healthcare professionals. Art is all around us and creating art as a form of self-expression can help our mental health. As we keep safe inside our homes and respect the need of social distancing, being able to self-express how we feel and finding some peace of mind is essential. Art as therapy can ease our thoughts and emotions and support our wellbeing. Here are some art directives for children, adults and families to engage in together- coming from an art therapist’s perspective for positive mental health. No one needs to be an artist to engage in art-making, so enjoy the process.
Me Box– find a shoebox or a small Amazon package box. The outside of the box you could either use paint or fabric, pictures, magazine images or words that you can make a collage of things by taping or gluing items that are of relevance to you. This should represent all the things, people, places, pets- everything you love and are passionate about in life, and the inside is filled with things sacred only to you- spiritual items, meditation images, a picture of someone or something deeply cherished to you. The inside is something you could keep only to you- kind of like a diary representation.
Inspiration Reflection Card– using copy paper, a plain notepad, large index card or a sketchpad and going through magazines images and words, and/or writing a personal mantra, symbol, image of the things that inspires, encourages and keeps your spirit happy- it can also respect things you’d like to achieve.
Support Kit– using a piece of paper, draw a large rectangle and in the inside of it write symbols, words or images of all the things that support you in life- it could be anywhere from people, places, pets to things like chocolate or a favorite movie or song
SuperHero Emblem- This could be made from material, various pieces of fabric, collage, or simply using paper to create your own personal superhero emblem. What would your symbol look like, and if it had a certain power what would it be?
Gratitude Image- The New York Times recently had a large front cover page of a rainbow to color in, thanking medical people for all their work. If you didn’t see this or you don’t have it- you can create your own gratitude drawing of who you would thank and taping it to a window as what The New York Times had encouraged people to do.
Angel Duncan is Director of the Master of Art in Art Therapy & Counseling at Albertus Magnus College. On May 7, 2020, Angel will be a panelist along with Judy Holstein, a Chicago-based drama therapist and Berna Huebner, producer and co-director of the film, “Remember Better When I Paint.” The film features respected scientific leaders in the Alzheimer’s world discussing the blend of the neurosciences and the arts coming together, explaining how and why the two need each other. Also to be discussed is a program Angel developed, Arts in MIND, in partnership with the Yale University Art Gallery, Yale Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Yale Neurology Group. Students from the Albertus MAATC program have researched for and participated in this work. Click the link to join this class by Zoom.