Healing Through Visual Art at The Compassionate Friends Conference
I am passionate about art and I am passionate about my family. It was an honour to bring those two loves together when I presented Healing through Visual Art a month ago at The Compassionate Friends of America National Conference in Chicago, Illinois. I started my workshop by sharing about Zachary’s life, his death, and how I discovered creativity as a way to pull myself out of the pit of grief. The conference saw thousands of bereaved parents, and some siblings too, gather together to remember, learn and share.
Standing in front of nearly forty attendees of my workshop, I was honoured to open up about my experience and show my artwork made in the darkest periods of my mourning. I presented many techniques and examples of how to use art for self-expression and self-exploration and was pleasantly surprised at how excited everyone was to do a hands-on activity. Afterwards, attendees told me about their sons and daughters. It was moving.
Some days there are no words to describe life after the death of a child. I think that’s one of the main reasons art is so powerful. It is abstract, colourful and intuitive. As an artist I find it natural to turn to this visual language to sift through matters of the heart, but even for non-artists, I encourage creative exploration and play.
My workshop was chosen and sponsored by Victor Cross, in loving memory of his son Victor ‘Trey’ Cross, III. Victor saw the benefit of arts for healing and I am very thankful for his vision and support.
“Every child is born an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso
For more information about Healing Through Visual Art and to see other conferences I will be presenting at, please click here. If you would like to bring Healing Through Visual Art, or Healing Through the Written Word, to your event, support group or conference please email me: info@alexismariechute.com
Workshop participants work on a hands-on project.
We are stronger together.
Alexis Marie