Who picks and apple from a tree... seriously?

     The person picking an apple from a tree assessment is used as a way of identifying patholigical tendencies. The formal elements of art therapy scale (FEATS) is used as a rating system for this assessment. It simply asks for the client to draw a person picking an apple from a tree, and the rest is fair game.

     One day I was drawing with a little girl and she asked me what she should draw. Of course, I told her to draw a person picking an apple from the tree (her parents were totally okay with it). 

This rendering shows that she had a clever way of getting the apple. It fell on her. There is an absence of a ground line; however, the page line could be considered the ground line. The girl was only 7, thus she is right on track as far as her artistic development. It could be inferred from her drawing that perhaps she does not have to work hard for what she is given, since the apple comes to her. Her parents and grandparents spoil her- she really doesn't have to work hard for what she is given (her parents totally agree!)

One foot, Two FEATS

            So I am not going to life, I was a little disappointed with the FEATS. Maybe it is my fault for not being educated before the assessment, but since the rating scale for the DDS is the FEATS, I thought I would get a diagnosis. But since we do not diagnose, I thought at least I would get an idea of specific pathology, but no! It really only measures if the client is presenting pathological behavior or not. I guess that is all right, but I was expecting more. I think for my purposes, I would rather use an assessment that can indicate some specific pathology. Is it possible to assess the artwork for the DDS with Lowenfeld’s levels of graphic development? Maybe the PPAT would be beneficial, if it was looking at specific pathology.

Excuse me! Did you just Cathart?

            During an unexpected chain of events I accidently catharted in class. I blame it on the DDS! During this assessment in which I was instructed to draw three images, one of which was how I was feeling that day, I was able to release a lot of energy and turn sublimate into something acceptable- pretty cool, It was probably the first time in my life! Now it may have been because I has a bad day on the job, or maybe because it was getting late, but as I progressed through the individual stages of the assessment I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated. And then I let it rip! With one bold streak of a red pastel I was off. Releasing all sorts of energy, but the amazing thing was that I was able to bring it full circle, and I found myself at peace when I was done.

          

     I though I was crazy, but when I did the assessment on another person, I found that she had the same reaction. Especially going into the third drawing. She began the image quite frustrated and ended at peace (only after experiencing a healthy dose of catharsis). I had the same results with yet another person as well. This leads me to wonder if the DDS assessment had any intrinsic therapeutic value or if it was a random coincidence of what happens when you release energy on a bad day.

You’ve been Crit Carded- 10 minute penalty

            Cart cards are tools that teachers and student can use to understand, evaluate, and interpret art. Credit for these handy cards goes to Tom Anderson. I chose to interpret one of my favorite sculptures according to one of the crit cards.

PIETA by Michelangelo- (obvious choice for someone like me)

            It is difficult for me to say what this work means because I know what the artist intended. I think that it not only captures that moment when Mary held her Son after He was taken down from the cross. The anguish that any mother would feel while holding her lifeless child is strewn across Mary’s Face. Mary is LARGER than Jesus because her size is supposed to indicate Mary as mother of the God and the Church (welcoming and universal).  As a character in the piece I could only imaging feeling tremendous consolation being held as a child. However, I could imagine the agony of holding one’s lifeless child, let alone God. I would title this piece “Unyielding.” Not to get too philosophical/ theological, BUT, in that moment (Holy Saturday- the day after Jesus died) the whole world was truly in despair- because they were without their savior. They were not sure of anything. But during that time, Christ descended into hell to kick ass and take names. Not even deal could stop Him.

Point of contention:

          

  There is a place in the crit cards that asks to ascribe worth to a piece. How is it possible that anyone could ascribe worth to another’s art? Indications of worth are truly subjective and although subjection may be all right for art education, ascribing worth in art therapy could be detrimental to the client.

3.2.1... Brawl

It has been argued that arts based instruments are counter therapeutic and even exploit clients- how can clinicians practice without involving exploitation? 

EXPLOITATION STATION:
Medical Model: Using an art based assessment to diagnose someone
Too quick to diagnose
Selfish motivations
Interviewer bias- OBJECTIVITY




This is how clinitians can practice without involving exploitation:
Using assessments when it is appropriate. 
Assessments can be used to lend support  

Client input should be taken into account

Objectivity


Note: The only way people will get the help they need is through assessments


Assesment according to Lowenfeld's Stages of artistic development:


Age: 17- 7th Grade- Schematic Stage


Client experienced loss of grandmother at 10 year old. Transitioned between mother and father's home. Child has a history of physical and substance abuse. Client is unable to read. Diagnosed with mild mental retardation.