Incarcerated teens work through their pain using paint and glue. A seasoned art therapist speaks about how art can reach the places beyond words
As we sat around the art therapy table in that prison deeply hurt and afraid little girls seemed to emerge. And it was those frightened trembling souls I tried to connect with and nurture through the art experience and discussions that followed
“I want the pink one!
“I always get the green one!”
“Save me a purple.”
I was not in a preschool. I was in a juvenile prison. And yet the claims rang out from these rough tough girls ranging in age from 14 to 21 who were taking part in the ritual that began our art therapy sessions. I was intrigued by this behavior though not surprised by the humanity expressed by each claim.
What were these incarcerated girls claiming in all colors of the rainbow? Small fluffy pompoms housed in a little red basket. At the start of each session we passed the basket around. As each participant chose her pompom she told the group how she was feeling that day and what she wanted to gain from the upcoming art therapy experience. At the end of the session each girl replaced her pompom into the little red basket and told the group what she got out of art therapy that day. It worked like magic.
Why was this ritual so effective with girls who were not strangers to abuse of all kinds rampant use of drugs lives of neglect and ultimately crime? I can’t say for certain; however as we sat around the art therapy table in that prison deeply hurt and afraid little girls seemed to emerge. And it was those frightened trembling souls I tried to connect with and nurture through the art experience and discussions that followed.
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