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From: Lori Andrews
Date: 10/18/00
Time: 10:54:59 PM
Remote Name: 152.163.201.81
Thank you for your question about honesty through art. Art has been an expression for mankind throughout the ages, and has reflected the uniqueness of the individual as well as the nature and nuances of the cultural environment. Handwriting has been used as an assessment tool and is based on the individual's unique expression of a stroke. In the field of Psychology, the House-Tree-Person, Draw-a-person test, to name a few, assess development and the perceptions one has of themselves and their environment. Drawing is about the individual. Even in copying another's work there is something to be known about the individual; perhaps in a defensive way there may be fear to express themselves freely, or the image is one that may be important and desireable, or they may need the guidance of another to encourage the communication of themselves. In the work I do as a Registered Art Therapist, I find that whatever the client does reflects aspects of themselves. As they honor the process of allowing themselves to be seen, a confidence builds. The images are a creative expression only they can truly manifest, so when the images are made and another sees things how they see them, a powerful communication has taken place that words could not reach as effectively. As I tell my clients, we can't help expressing ourselves every day in the clothes we wear, the way we decorate our houses, the work we do, the music we chose - the list goes on. I think another appropriate question to ask is, "are we ready to sit with what has been created and know ourselves better?" Thanks.