TRANSFORMATIONS

摘要

As artists who use clay, many of us also facilitate creativity in others. 'Participatory Arts' has become the buzzword in place of the outmoded designation of 'Community Arts'. Those of us whose practice includes creative facilitation will be familiar with the phrase: 'Ohhh, this is so therapeutic' issuing from the lips of our participants. What do they mean by 'therapeutic' and in what ways are we supporting the work of health professionals? If we are honest with ourselves, most of us will admit to something of the therapeutic within our own practice, with our own relationship with clay, and the creative process. Much as we might pursue an artistic line, we cannot but be aware that working with creative skills and especially, dare I suggest, working with clay is a therapeutic exercise. We know intuitively that working with clay does something that is beneficial, maybe something to do with the relaxation of the busy brain? We instinctively know that something is at work for many people, but 'how' does it work? Here, artists from City Arts are working in collaboration with health practitioners and academics to investigate these questions.C