
Tag: art therapy


Returning Artist Shawna Ainslie Writes About Gender, Race and Religious Privilege

Visual Artist Mark Lloyd says “Art can provide an avenue for self-expression, Art can enable us to realise the truth, art can provide hope and wonder, elements that can provoke change and save lives”.

Illustrator, animator and writer Andreea Stan says art saves lives “There were situations when I felt that my art was the only thing I had and it kept me going, it didn’t let me give up”.

Denny Reader talks to ASLI about his schizophrenia and using his creativity, saying “Its gives me a purpose and a platform to share my ideas and myself with the world around me”.

Indian visual artist Sravanthi Juluri speaks to ASLI, “my work has been a major source of healing in my life. I never thought my art could actually help women in distress to come out in the open about the abuse they have faced and open up a platform to raise our voices and say no to violence against women”.

Musician and composer Shell Dooley speaks about music as therapy “I think creative expression is one of the best forms of therapy. It gives an individual a chance to communicate feelings that may not be able to come out in other forms. It can also be very calming and provide a focus and stability”.

Writer and poet Janeen Pergrin Rastall speaks to ASLI “I believe that creative work can inspire people to endure, to have hope and to express their dreams and despairs in a positive way”.

Andrea Ballance is a survivor of the Buddhist group NKT and tells ASLI “I have lived through PTSD and RT (religious trauma). I feel that I have something to say that can help people. I feel art in all its facets has an important role to play in an individual’s health and the health of our whole society”.

Esi Yankey speaks to ASLI about domestic violence and PTSD and says “I am firmly committed to speaking up on topics that too many people remain silent on.”

Artist Jessica Caudery “Writing, painting and drawing directly and indirectly became a way to express my emotions. It is difficult to say to what extent art has saved my life but it has been a constant positive, something which has perhaps kept me afloat during times of stress, anxiety and mild depression”.

ASLI Artist Louise Tomkinson states: “to me, “art saves lives” means having the power to use the language of art, as art is strong enough to pull someone back from the brink, therefore becoming the voice which enables art to create change”.

Visual Artist Lynn Excell speaks about grief, depression and staying creative: “‘Art Saves Lives’ to me, means that art is a way of helping to heal us when we are broken”.

ASLI Speak to Artist Mistresslisa Taylor about mental health and art in which she states, “Hand on my heart, art has saved my life. Without it I would be dead”.

Artist Jade Bryant is fiercely tackling her mental illness with art and in the process is changing the world’s awareness of Borderline Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder.

Composer and writer Sophie Jupillat talks to ASLI about her experiences with mental illness “Being able to write creatively and play music was a secret garden in my world of chaos and destruction”.

Debra-Lynn Hook speaks to ASLI about her photography, mental illness and her inspiring mission; The Healing Body Image Project, “If photos help one of our women progress one step forward on her healing path, that is change worth noting”.

Artist Jana Charl believes the statements “art saves lives” and “art creates change” reflect the power of art as both a practice and an impact on society.

Artist Emma Phillips has Borderline Personality Disorder and tells ASLI “my work is hard hitting and I do feel the messages within my work could help create change how others perceive mental illness”.
