Sunday’s event was called “Connections at the Zoo.” And I
wanted to share with you all one thing that was really amazing and interesting
to me. ITA always brings a “wall” to each event. This wall has four wooden
panels and space for people to use grout and mosaics. They can write on the
pieces, create designs or just fill in as they like. This gives an opportunity
for people to commemorate the lost and to create something out of it.
I was struck yesterday by how art can help us process
difficult things like the sudden loss of a loved one. When there are so many
questions, emotions, needs and more, art can place something concrete in your
hand and empower you to create when you feel powerless. So they could take
ownership of what they put on the wall and create something of meaning and
value to them.
Our art therapist, Leslee, shared with me that she knows she
cannot fully understand or empathize with these families because their loss is
something she cannot begin to imagine or comprehend, but she finds joy in
facilitating workshops and in helping with the wall because the families find
ways to connect to each other, and because she gets to see families come back
and how much they grow and change between events. She shared that she gets to
see the healing process at certain points, and it is so encouraging for her to
see that.
The event was a great opportunity to see more about what the
arts can do in people’s lives, and how arts therapists can have a unique impact
that allows people to create when they cannot find the words to discuss what
has happened. I am learning that through creating art can come healing.
If you want to learn more about these events and where
Leslee has taken the wall, you can see the blog at: http://followthewall.org/
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