THE ART ADVANTAGE: ART THERAPY IN GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS

GLAM Gets Mindful | Melissa Mertsis
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In the GLAM sector, particularly museums and galleries, themes of visitor mindfulness, wellness, and mental health have recently emerged. One way these institutions have been highlighting these themes is through art therapy, an increasingly popular movement. Art therapy is defined as a therapeutic experience-based process in which media and art replaces, or complements, verbal communication. The emphasis in this method is between the artist/visitor/patient and the artwork that they are creating - this allows a form of self-expression and exploration that individuals may not receive otherwise.

Admiring my favourite artwork at the AGO. Photo courtesy of Tyler Wilson Photography.

In more traditional therapy types that emphasize verbal communication, individuals can feel like their opportunities for creativity are lacking. Self-expression through art can allow an individual to explore parts of themselves they may not have been exposed to previously. In addition to expression, art therapy allows individuals to reflect. Finding an object or artwork that you really connect with can be a powerful and meaningful experience. “Seeing yourself” in an object can facilitate deep self-reflection - why does this object resonate with me? On a more scientific basis, art also stimulates neurological activity that individuals may not experience in their day-to-day. According to Ashford University, looking at art is almost an exercise for your brain - although that painting of a field of flowers is not made of real flowers, your brain organizes the image into recognizable patterns to understand what the art is trying to depict. A phenomenon called embodied cognition happens when you look at art, where your brain turns things that you see into emotions that you can actually feel. An example of embodied cognition is looking at a painting of a man crying and feeling like you should be consoling them - artwork doesn’t just affect you mentally, but physically as well.

Christina Uggé (second from left) facilitating a printmaking workshop at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, January 2018. Photo courtesy of Christina Uggé. 

Galleries and museums are excellent candidates for art therapy because they’re filled with the stuff that art therapists deem most useful. You may have seen an article circulating suggesting that doctors can prescribe visits to museums and galleries, and there’s actually some truth in that. A pilot project between the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and a local doctors association came to the realization that art can actually be helpful for people, from those with “mental illness and eating disorders, to diabetes and high blood pressure.” The National Museum of Contemporary Art, in Athens, Greece has implemented a similar pilot project where individuals participating in traditional therapy visit the museum to explore art, develop personal interests and curiosity, and experience creating actual art themselves.

Objects can tell you a lot more than you think. Photo courtesy of Emily Finbow.

A clinical study conducted by the National Health Service in England joined with the Folk Museum (now called Gloucester Life Museum) and the City Museum and Art Gallery (now called Museum of Gloucester) to examine the effect of art on their patients, and if it could facilitate any positive changes. Each session consisted of a private meeting, a self-led (but monitored) exploration of artifacts in the museum, followed by art-making and a “show and tell” of what the person had created. After 18 weekly sessions, every participant noted at least some degree of positive changes. Participants noted that self-exploration was a major takeaway from this project, where others even expressed less overall anxiety. One of the coordinators explained that hosting sessions in a more public institution was beneficial for the participants themselves - it felt “normal” and was accompanied by less stigma than a traditional therapeutic setting.

Artwork is meant to evoke feelings and thoughts from every viewer - what do you feel? Photo courtesy of Jordan Vetter.

Creating art is thought to create stronger connectivity between different parts of your brain, and also positively affect your visual capabilities, as well as have a positive impact your mindfulness and wellbeing. Common de-stressing techniques include colouring and art classes, and conveniently, many of these classes and workshops are available at local museums. Here are some workshops that Toronto museums and galleries hosted in the past:

Spadina Museum hosted a “Drawn to Wellness” event on January 19th where individuals went on a tour of the museum, followed by a mindfulness session led by Spadina Museum staff. After the tour and session, participants had the opportunity to explore landscape painting through their medium of choice, from pencil to embroidery. The Art Gallery of Ontario has an ongoing wellness workshop titled “Art & Ideas: Happiness” where individuals examine and create depictions of “happiness.” Through a visual/aesthetic and philosophical lens, participants are invited to examine their idea of happiness, what that looks like, and how they can achieve it. If you’re interested in experiencing a workshop by a registered art therapist, the Gardiner Museum may have the workshop for you. In “Interconnectedness: Dust to Stardust, Stardust to Dust” registered art therapist Suzanne Thomson leads a clay-based workshop examining the power of self-compassion, malleability (in life and in clay), and becoming “unstuck.”

Be sure to keep an eye out on the “Events” pages of your favourite local institutions - mindfulness workshops are becoming more and more popular, and are worth exploring! Please note - art therapy is experimental and explorative, and is often used as a complementary form of therapy or mindfulness practice. Ensure you are exploring the right options for you and your wellness journey.