During my junior year I decided to work directly with my college to produce the best and most thorough work that I could. I presented my work to the art history department and was told to consider making this website, and the work associated with it, as part of a special studies that would receive credit. It had been incredibly difficult to build the work into my schedule before, on top of a full course load, extracurriculars, and a job. However, when I opened up the project to departments and help from the school, I found the rhythm I needed and the resources required to complete this project to it’s fullest potential.
As soon as I had the chance to sit down and plan out how this project would unfold throughout the semester, I became excited about interviews with professors, technical assistance and website design programs, and general advice that were now at my disposal. This no longer seemed like a daunting task to take upon my own shoulders, but an opportunity to explore this through a multidisciplinary lens. A plan was beginning to form.
I knew my ultimate goal was to sit down with the veterans and hear their experiences with art therapy. However, there were so many steps that I needed to go through to produce a successful interview. As soon as I presented my idea to the department, I was signed up for a three week seminar on oral history, something that proved incredibly helpful, as it would guide me through the process of collecting narratives. After this seminar I plan on speaking to the psychology and art history departments to understand their perspective and experience with art therapy. One of the final parts to this project will be to explore how accessible and available art therapy programs are in veterans hospitals and what might be standing in the way from making them more universal.
I have a lot to consider and explore in this project, but it stems from the belief that art, one of humanities more in depth forms of expression, is a healing outlet that should be encouraged. Taking the time to focus ones mind and release the inevitable frustrations, fears and eagerness can produce some of the most fascinating and complex representations of the inner self on paper or canvas.