Art Therapy For Me

An afternoon at the Blanton Museum of Art remedies my difficult day; certain textured fabric alters my mood. A piece of marble shaped into sculpture makes me believe life is limitless. The effects art can have on me is extraordinary. Art’s ability to transcend age and culture as a physical constant, while simultaneously changing in meaning and interpretation is one of humanity’s greatest gifts. 

Since the beginning of time, humans have used art as a catalyst in the healing process. Art allows us to better understand, evaluate, and accept. What was once challenging to think through, may just be easy to create. We can fully connect with our identities; our emotions, beliefs, and interpretations can be expressed on a singular canvas. Art is the reservoir of healing. It is well recognized that creating art has quantifiable therapeutic benefits for both the mind and the body. But because healing is unique to each individual person and each distinct situation, I wonder how art can be so universally adaptable. How can art aid both someone grieving loss and someone battling illness? What is the capacity for art to heal? I have only begun my journey to answer these unknowns and hope to continue to do so in my future studies.

Throughout my life, I hope to encounter others who believe in the power of art. I want to hear their stories about their interactions with art and how it has integrated into their life stories. I want to investigate from their perspectives. Can a computer science student create therapeutic art via coding? Does creative writing provide a similar artistic relief for English majors? I hope to find art’s capacity to heal within them.