Wow! I know, it's way too much. I am not sure how to deal with this. I think I will just try to ignore it all and just concentrate on what I'm there for. I've been invited to speak and explain how trauma was an inspiration for my art.
I have decided to go beyond that. I will also be explaining a very real surprise for me. Not only did trauma inspire my creativity, it also contributed to personal healing in light of the murder of our daughter Candace.
It's not like I decided to be creative because I thought it would be a healing experience. I just wanted to do art. The trauma was there and became the both the inspiration and the subject of healing. So I will try to explain how that happened.
Every speaking engagement is unique in it's purpose and goals, and so I always learn. This time I have learned that it's only very recently that the medical world for example has realized the healing that creativity can bring to the human situation. Hence the rapid and exciting growth of "art therapy" for an increasing variety of human issues. Everything from mental illness, depression, physiological issues (the list goes on) and of course any kind of trauma.
Here I am, an artist who began to practice art inspired by trauma, encountering in the process a new cultural phenomenon, that confirms his experience of healing through creativity. I am excited to tell my story and contribute to the validity of the healing value of creativity, any kind of creativity, writing, music, dance, painting, etc. etc.
This also begs the question, is trauma necessary for good art to happen?
I pray I can be a valid contributor to this exciting and valuable turn of events.
I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers on my behalf as I speak in an educational environment about my experience of healing.
In trepidation I invite you, all my readers to attend. See the poster above for details.
Thank you for your support. See you this Friday 12 noon at the University of Manitoba!
I have decided to go beyond that. I will also be explaining a very real surprise for me. Not only did trauma inspire my creativity, it also contributed to personal healing in light of the murder of our daughter Candace.
It's not like I decided to be creative because I thought it would be a healing experience. I just wanted to do art. The trauma was there and became the both the inspiration and the subject of healing. So I will try to explain how that happened.
Every speaking engagement is unique in it's purpose and goals, and so I always learn. This time I have learned that it's only very recently that the medical world for example has realized the healing that creativity can bring to the human situation. Hence the rapid and exciting growth of "art therapy" for an increasing variety of human issues. Everything from mental illness, depression, physiological issues (the list goes on) and of course any kind of trauma.
Here I am, an artist who began to practice art inspired by trauma, encountering in the process a new cultural phenomenon, that confirms his experience of healing through creativity. I am excited to tell my story and contribute to the validity of the healing value of creativity, any kind of creativity, writing, music, dance, painting, etc. etc.
This also begs the question, is trauma necessary for good art to happen?
I pray I can be a valid contributor to this exciting and valuable turn of events.
I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers on my behalf as I speak in an educational environment about my experience of healing.
In trepidation I invite you, all my readers to attend. See the poster above for details.
Thank you for your support. See you this Friday 12 noon at the University of Manitoba!
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