An OT at an occupational therapy art exhibit

This by summer, I participated in an exhibit at The Gimmicky Art Museum of Saint Louis called "Occupational Therapy," curated by Kelly Shindler. I was visiting the museum with my son on a stroller bout when I stumbled upon this gem. The exhibit encompassed a broad range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, installation, functioning and video. This exhibit emphasized a variety of psychological conditions, both real and imagined, made manifest by artistic practise. Information technology also explored the complexities and challenges that artists' face by using both sense of humor and pessimism. It aimed to humanize the creative process by highlighting the personal insecurities and frustrations of the creative occupation.

Throughout the showroom, in that location were many pieces that encapsulated the occupational struggle an artist faces. For example, Carol Pope, an American artist, had her work displayed with letterpress on cardstock that bluntly stated, "This Project Started in Defoliation and Will Cease in Disarray." Another artist, William Powhida, used painting to critique the production, reception and economy of art making. One of his works, "Some Cynical Advice to Artists," sardonically offered advice apropos how to reach fame, such as, "Information technology is better to say naught, than take a chance being incorrect."

While some artists focused their work on the frustrations posed by their occupation, others, such every bit German language creative person Christian Jankowski, used it as a method of self-improvement. In his piece of work "Das Gesunde Werden" ("Becoming Salubrious"), Jankowski went on a retreat in Austria in search of balance between his struggles as an creative person and his physiological wellbeing. In order to achieve this, he underwent therapies including "brain walking," yoga, "sensual detox," and deep musculus relaxation. He documented his experiences in photographs. His work has been received every bit somewhat unorthodox in the artistic community, however very relevant to occupational therapy. The diverse perspectives offered by those such every bit Jankowski and others underscored the artists' humanity and debunked the common perception that their work stems from an effortless, creative genius.

Through my first-hand experience of the exhibit, "Occupational Therapy" appears quite plumbing equipment delving into to the deeper meanings of an creative person and their occupation. The societal stressors, the inner struggles with meaning of piece of work, artist cake are all components of the procedure and journeying through occupational therapy.

Volunteering at an Occupational Therapy Art Exhibit

I was trained equally a "volunteer therapist" in Pedro Reyes' Sanatorium, a psychiatric clinic that erases the hierarchy between therapist and patient. Information technology is a reflective experience for both therapist and patient. The clinic is a nontraditional approach to therapy, offering a new form of healing. Volunteer therapists offering "treatments", wearing lab coats to transform a layperson into a professional person. The transient clinic creates a site for radical social encounters. Reye's celebrates the profound relationships, connections and changes that strangers can realize together.

Nosotros offered a variety of therapies for the visitors to cull from. 1 of my favorites was called "Museum of Hypothetical Lifetimes," where a client chooses various figures and items from shelves that are used to illustrate their life. The therapist is sort of a curator, guiding the patient and assisting them through their hypothetical museum. This therapy was very deep and personal, ranging from the symbolism of their nativity to their death and connecting complete strangers.  It was interesting to see that one of my clients left bare spaces in areas with paternal influence including fathers and grandfathers, where others may take had difficulty with filling in areas regarding honey, career or fifty-fifty death. It was a reflective experience for both the patient and therapist. Some of the clients chose to elaborate on items they chose, where others were more private in the whole experience.

Volunteering at an Occupational Therapy Art Exhibit

Another therapy, I enjoyed was called "Epitaphs" where the client inscribes their ain epitaph using language equally obviously or poetic equally they wish. Most people never go to know what will be written on their tombstone. Some clients had meaningful words while others were more humorous.  Patients used a mallet to brand the imprint on paper, like to how information technology would wait on stone. We encouraged clients to lie downwardly on pillows and reflect on writing their own epitaphs. It was interesting how many clients expressed that they did non reverberate on their death all to often or the legacy they wanted to leave behind.

This experience volunteering every bit a therapist was very unique and it truly encompassed meaning and reflection into the client's lives as well as my own. It has made me reflect on my ain challenges and goals and how I am seeking for meaning within my own career and life. I hope this tendency of promoting occupational therapy in dissimilar areas continues as nosotros practise wonderful piece of work in a variety of settings that are sometimes overlooked.

Promoting occupational therapy in different areas