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.

Are YOU talking to ME?!- Interviews

So what do I and  a transgendered histrionic client in common? Not what you think! Nothing actually. In a roll playing exercise, I was "asked" (Really, They forced me to do it) to be the therapist to a transgendered individual with a flirting problem. It was difficult because it was obviously a fake situation, but because we were trying to diagnose the client. I was unsure of why type of questions to ask, not because I was afraid to ask, but because I was not composed- I don't do well in chaos (I'm trying to work on that!). Had this been a real life situation, I'm sure it would not have been this difficult, but with the rest of the class watching (and laughing) it was difficult- someone else had to finish the session. But I digress-

KFD: Kentucky Fried Drawing?

So in class, we did a Kinetic Family Drawing (KFD). To be perfectly honest- I'm a little skeptical of it. I think that it is interesting, but I feel like I may have been misunderstood. I drew a picture of my family from a memory of one particular moment... a wine pairing (phenomenal!) party for my mother's 50th birthday. I don't draw- I sculpt. So when I draw, I start out sketchy and work the image until it kind of looks like what I want to depict. In analyzing my picture it was mentioned that the family seamed distant with each other and that I focused on some people more than others. All of which I wrote off. If anything, I think more could be gathered from the sketchy quality of the image- maybe I am insecure about drawing ability!? I'll survive.
Truth be told, you can't totally write off the KFD, but the depictions in the art cannot be taken as hard fact. It may be a good jumping off point. With care, it can be a useful technique to gather more information about family dynamics. Avoid jumping to conclusions!

Here We Go!

So here I am- one of only 6% of male art therapists- correction I am just an art therapy student. I'm not there yet. I wonder how many male art therapy student exist- that could be an even smaller number. Not that gender is an issue but I'm just throwing that out there. Enjoy my remarks- dare I say, they are a little off color, but never meant to show disrespect. In this blog is will reflect upon several art therapy assessments you'll be lucky enough to get my opinion!