Los Angeles County Psychological Association

Mirrors of the Mind 10: The Psychotherapist as Artist
in the (Hopeful) Wake of the Coronavirus

 

 

Artist Statement  

Submit Artist Statement, Art JPEG and Artist Photo as attachments to: [email protected] (see Prospectus)

Pay fees online. Deadline: October 1, 2021

For questions, contact:

Terry Marks-Tarlow, PhD at [email protected] or (310) 458-3418 or Pamela McCrory, PhD at [email protected] or (818) 999-4126

PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. 

  1. INSTRUCTIONS FOR VISUAL ART DESCRIPTION

You may enter a single art image within any medium (e.g., painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, print-making). Please note: vertical (portrait) images fit better into the virtual gallery than horizontal (landscape) images.

     2. INSTRUCTIONS FOR ATTACHING YOUR ART AND ARTIST PHOTO

Title your high-resolution JPEG file as follows: last name, comma, exact title of each piece listed in your registration form. 

Here is an example of a JPEG title:Greening, Tethered Flight

Please send a high-resolution artist photo—either head shot or full body image.  Feel free to choose an artistic or playful image. 

Note: Send highest resolution images possible!

Send corresponding JPEGS for art and artist statement

 by email attachment to [email protected]

Be sure to send the images as an attachment. 

Do not embed images within the body of the email!

     3. INSTRUCTIONS FOR ARTIST STATEMENT

On Registration Form (last page of this document), type your artist statement of up to 350 words in length centered and single spaced, in Arial typeface, 12-pt. font. 

The focus should be on the psychological significance and meaning of your art. We encourage you to relate you piece to this year’s theme. We continue to harness the power of arts created by clinicians to educate, inspire, and promote reflection and dialogue about  power, privilege, racism, protest, and social justice. 

[SEE SAMPLE ARTIST STATEMENT BELOW.

Be sure to include your degree after your name]

THOMAS GREENING, PhD

 Psychotherapy resembles art in numerous ways. When I am involved in therapy with my patients, my goal is to free them from whatever negative psychological states that have evolved into their impediment to personal fulfillment and happiness, so that they can embrace Life as the affirming and defining force that it is. I am drawn to the idea that as I sculpt, I am not creating something that had not existed before, but with my tools I am liberating the form that heretofore had been hidden within the confines of the wood. Similarly, when I explore with my patients their problems, at first nuances are revealed during our early sessions. Later, the reality of the quality of their existence emerges, and it is often grounded in depression. My acceptance of their psychological state, be it depression, mania, or anxiety, becomes part of me as I have chosen to engage them, and they, me, into their private worlds. With sculpture (and poetry) I am able to transform these acquired emotions into a form that can be shared with others. For me, this is one of the major functions of Art.

Tethered Flight

(Sculpture/assemblage, 12” x 12” x 16”)

This piece symbolizes the colorful psyche’s attempt to soar while attached to a dull wood base. I chose wood as my sculpting medium because it is a natural substance that Nature has provided for our use. While wood has a practical, tangible use for our prosaic needs, it also has a spiritual quality. My home is surrounded by wood in the form of trees and bushes. It is all around me whatever the time of day or my mood.

Contact: list your email and website