CoRK Art District Jacksonville, FL
I used to be a gallerist: a very good or very bad career choice for a drinker, depending on how you see the wine glass. Even with the increased visibility and reach of the internet as a means of selling art, the sexy part of the art world revolves around the social, schmoozing cocktail hours of the Art Opening. I was masterful at talking the art talk and walking the art walk (stumble, stagger) while brandishing a white wine glass – an expected hand-prop, omnipresent as Lagerfeld’s fan.
These days I have been more interested in art therapy, but I had the opportunity to meet with Larry Wilson and Dolf James yesterday, two of Jacksonville’s most prolific and talented artists, and it all came flooding back. My passion for the visual and visceral stimulation of the art world and the company of artists was rekindled. It has been too long.
I’ve been getting out more recently, stoking old relationships and making new friends. I am happier, and smarter and more aware. It’s all part of the healing process I am told – this unfamiliar sense of wellbeing and optimism, and my trip to CoRK Art District felt like positive therapy…
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) defines art therapy as, “The therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development”. Through creative mediums such as drawing, painting, writing or sculpting, art therapy has been proven to have a number of positive life-changing benefits. I can certainly attest to the power of writing it all down in a blog…
Maybe that is why I have always enjoyed the company of artists so much over the years. The fact that what they feel inside – illness, trauma, the challenges of living – is so exposed, and in such a nuanced way. I looked up the definition of “Art” and here’s what the dictionary said, “Art is:the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power”.
The definition of “Art” sounds a lot like the definition of “Art Therapy” doesn’t it? Bring it on.
Larry Wilson’s gorgeous “Tribe Series”
The studio of Dolf James at CoRK…
Today I’m not drinking because I’m getting some art therapy…
