This literally brought a tear to my eye. It ‘s an older video, but it really showcases the effect art can have on people. In this particular video, the focus is on people from the Mississippi State Hospital and their Community Services Program for people with mental illness. And while this may or may not be professional art therapy, it sure is tough to deny the therapeutic benefits art has on the seven people featured in this video. We can debate where art ends and therapy begins all we want, but if a person believes there is therapeutic benefit from the art they’re creating, why should anyone tell them differently? This video was inspiring, touching, and heartfelt for me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Art Therapy & Art Show at a Mental Hospital
Video Transcription
Did the best I could here. Some parts were a little tough to understand. Feel free to add any corrections in the comments.
“Serendipity”
BILLY
“If it wasn’t for art, I don’t know what I’d do…”
Art…I did a lot of things in my life, that you know, from working on cars…I don’t get nothing out, like I did when I’m doing my artwork. I don’t know…if it wasn’t for art, I don’t know what I’d do because…the cars – they make it so now I can’t work on ’em so now my art just…I hate to brag on it, but it’s fantastic. It relaxes me. It gives me something to think about when I stop doing it. I think about my next move I’m going to make. When I’m drawing something, I don’t draw it exactly like it because I want to put something different in it. You know you ain’t got be no certain…anybody can be an artist. But it helps to have a (?) to go to. You may say I don’t feel like doing this, I dont feel like drawing, but once you do it you can’t hardly get over it ’cause it’ll be beautiful.
VALERIE
“Art services has really helped me.”
I tell you…art services has really helped me. (?) has really been a part of my life for a while. And I’ve really enjoyed being her student. Well art is just…it makes me feel great. There’s always a positive sign…always…and I just enjoy that. The artwork that I do is just freestyle. But I know some people like to get into a pattern of work…the outlet for my feelings to be more positive and to really enjoy art. My artwork is really good because I do enjoy the art. It really helps me as far as people helping me and expressing their feelings. It makes me proud of my paintings and my collage that I’ve made.
JOHN
Well, being born in small (?), went to school in a little one-room schoolhouse, going to church. I remember the windmill, we was picking cotton and drinking water from it. The army material, which I wanted to join the army, but mostly I dealt with the farming equipment ’cause that’s where we had a farm. And then worked on a farm for the people that had a tractor. And then racing with the road machine there. I remember the bulldozer from my first job…(?)…picking up sticks. And I like to go fishing. But that’s not a fishing boat, but this way I like to go fishing by the outhouse and the trains and things was passing through town. (?) Sort of like shaping things and molding cars…So, that kinda describes me…(?)
ALVIN
…I paint every day…that’s about it.
RONNY
“It tends to make me forget about my disability with bipolar disorder – and that I’m a normal person.”
My name is Ronny Rolin (sp?) and I’ve been attending Caper’s art class for over 5 years. I was hesitant to go into Tony’s class, but when I did, I started enjoying it. I don’t necessarily want to copy paintings because I want every painting I do to be original. I guess that’s why I try to paint within my soul and heart…because I want something different and original. But a lot of times I feel like the good Lord is directing my hand when I’m doing something freehand and I don’t know how it’s going to turn out until the picture is actually complete. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment, and it makes me happy. It makes me proud to be who I am. It tends to make me forget about my disability with bipolar disorder – and that I’m a normal person.
MICHAEL
“Anybody who draws…they will feel a portion, or maybe better, or the same, as what I feel. I guarantee that.”
I’m fresh out of jail and looking around for work. I found this center called The Opportunity Center just looking for (?) to help me get some more work and maybe help me get my life back together. I met this guy named Tony who comes to this center something like every Wednesday and he’s an art teacher. And he looked at some of my work and thought it was okay, so he asked me to join his class. Well, I’ll tell you what I feel. I didn’t know what kind of feelings I was going to have when I drew something…’cause I always was doing it for myself. But now I feel…I’m surprised at how I feel after I finish something after somebody’s asked me to do something for them. And the outcome of what I’ve set out to do is, to me, is a lot more fulfilling than I thought it would ever be. I don’t care how small or large it is, it’s a good feeling. You can feel it. Anybody who draws…and…after they’ve completed something, they will feel a portion, or maybe better, or the same, as what I feel. I guarantee that.
UNKNOWN WOMAN
“I have found art and decided that I love it. I can get lost. I realize it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be fun. You just have to enjoy it…and I certainly did.”
I’m 44 years old…I just wrote art off…as much as I would have liked to have done it. And here I am in the most unlikeliest of places, the Mississippi State Hospital, I have found art and decided that I love it. I can get lost. You know that hour, or sometimes the class will go on maybe a little bit more than an hour and that is the best hour. It’s peaceful, and it’s childlike, and it’s new and it’s fresh, and it’s whatever you want it to be. I realize it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be fun. You just have to enjoy it…and I certainly did.
Nice to hear all these comments from people, who are being helped throughout their Mental Illnesses with Art Therapy. It is amazing as a few weeks ago a friend asked me to organize a painting session at ‘home’. She was feeling a bit ‘under the weather’, and so I said, ‘yes’, and set up the Art room for a two hour Art session. Neither of us had an idea what to do, but we set up with pencils, Acrylic paints, bits of tissue paper,and hey presto! There was a ‘ratatatat’ at the door, there appeared my friend with all her Art kit, ready to work! She said ‘I really haven’t a clue, as to know what to do’, and I said ‘that’s alright, we shall just start with a little observational exercise first, then we shall see’. We sat on a chair and I began with a Sensory exercise, being aware of the sense of touch, then sense of smell, then sense of taste, then the sense of hearing, then the sense of sight, observing a particular colour in front of you, and just see colour, shape, and form. Then close the eyes for about 2 minutes and just listen to the Natural Sounds, and come to rest. Being aware of the senses and body,brings one into the Now, and the listening to natural sounds helps to still Mind from the busy state, and whatsoever, helping to focus upon the sense of sight, brings clarity. Anyway after this sensory exercise we took out Paper, Watercolours, and I said, ‘Now choose the most dominant colour out of three, then the second, and third.I had an idea to create textures, and mixed some flour, salt and water together and made a runny glue-like mixture, painted it on greaseproof paper, and baked it for 10 mins. It turned out crinkly, and there was a texture. My friend started working on Watercolour paper with watercolour. She kept saying’I don’t really know what to do’, its like a ‘doodle’ I said”that’s alright, just let the doodle do it for youy’ and you know it did! She suddenly started sketching geometric shapes, and beautiful colours appeared. I took out some greaseproof paper and daubed this flour and water mixture all over it, and then started dribbling paint, in various places, started using my fingers, and got into a messy state, but saw all different kinds of colours, shapes and forms.Then I saw the shape of an Eagle, so I broke up the baked texture, and formed some wings, that had a crinkled effect. As the Acrylic was drying, we decided to take a break, with some refreshment, and pinned the paintings up to study what had taken place.It was just seeing and observing. My friends doodles had turned into three beautiful birds, exotic birds, and she began to talk about colourful things, like her holiday in South America, and all these colours came into Mind, but that happened ages ago, 10 yrs or so, but nevertheless, these colours were set to work, and appeared in the form of three exotic birds. My painting was a grand mixture of oranges, browns, and yellows, with white bits, from the flour and water, that had made a textured effect. The Eagle appeared on the upper half, looking down at a rock-like surface. Could make this image out, but needed more work on it, so we had initiated a painting, just through Colour technique of doodling and experimenting with simple elements like Flour salt and Water, baked to make a crinkly effect on paper. The ‘doldrums’ were let go of, and something had been created out of nothing! So I thought I would share this 2 hour session in Art with you all, and hope this has contributed to promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing for Art Therapy at Home! I am seriously thinking about starting a group for people with a disability in home centre for Art as it makes a difference, and motivates. My friend said that she felt relaxed and out of the ‘doldrums’, so Art does assist us when we need to create!After being diagnosed with OesteoArthritis, and sometimes experience painful joint, Art has been so therapeutic for myself, and has enabled me to discover new things, that helps to lift depression and Anxiety too. So I am very happy to share this with you all. All the best in Art and your creativity. Regards Angela Susan Harrison
@angela,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful story! 🙂
A creative outlet, art, can truly be anything and done by everyone. A way to get out of our soul, that which is in need of spilling forth onto this plane of existence. A way to safely rant, rave, yell, scream, lay bare emotions, explode an idea, impossible to express in words, but in desperate need of expression. A way to relax, flow, ground and recharge, dispel confusion, make happy, safe, feel nurtured, excepted and loved. What else offers humanity so much, for so little investment?
This story/video was truly inspirational. As an artist myself, I can really appreciate stories like this and connect to the characters in the video. This story inspired me for 2 of my class assignments as an Arts Management major at SUNY Purchase, and I also shared the video in my blog too!
I`m a mental health nurse student and I`m preparing presentatin about art therapy in the mental health nurse work. This website is my inspiration and this clip from youtube is great! I`m going to use it in my presentation, I hope I can. This website is absolutely fab 🙂
Dorota
I am looking to participate in a volunteer Art Therapy placement (2-6 weeks) in Mississippi or thereabouts in April/May 2012, after I graduate in a Diploma of Art Therapy, from an Australian Art Therapy school (IKON). I am very much inspired by the Mississippi State Hospital’s Art program, and wondered if there would be volunteer opportunities available?
I currently live and work in Alice Springs, Central Australia, as an Occupational Therapist I where I also provide Art Therapy services to adults with mental health difficulties and cognitive impairment. My work history is extensive – I have 11 years clinical experience in diverse settings with a culturally varied client base.
I can be contacted via email or Scype to discuss possibilities, and am happy to provide my resume and references. Please feel free to refer my details to other Art Therapists who may be interested.
Robyn George
lindarobyngeorge@yahoo.com.au