Where arts in the other 23 comes from
The 1969 book, The Other 23 Hours, provided a framework for child care workers to integrate elements of healing into their regular interactions with the children in their care. It supported the timeless premise that healing is not solely regulated to a one hour therapy session, but is likely more quickly achieved when being addressed around the clock (Trieschman, Whittaker, Brendtro, 1969). While the book was specifically written for non-clinically trained child care workers, the premise is universal and timeless. Emotional and mental healing can take place outside of the clinical realm.
We are primarily art educators, but share a passion for infusing our classes with safe space to explore, grow, and heal. We approach our students through a therapeutic lens - NOT as therapists - but rather calling on the naturally occurring protective and promotive factors that co-occur during the creative process.
The use of art in healing is equally universal and timeless. For example, Aboriginal philosophy subscribes to the belief that healing is not a separate art (Dufrene, 1991). Likewise, healing is not limited to only the physical illness, but encompasses psychological, social, and spiritual ills as well (Dufrene, 1991). For nearly all of history, healers and shamans have called on drumming, dance, song, and visual arts to bring healing and balance. Despite ever growing technological advances, the healing practices rooted in our ancestors remain powerful today.
Our work is greatly influenced by Bessel Van Der Kolk, Dr. Bruce Perry and the Neurosequential Model, Drs. Vivian Nix-Early and Nathan Corbett of BuildaBridge International, Howard Bath, Marty Sprague, Susan McGreevy-Nichols and of course, our students.
This blog is intended to provide practical information presented at times anecdotally, and at other times linked to specific research and study. We both admit that our brains move faster than our speech/writing, so if articles seem to present information that seems to be missing something….just keep reading. We promise we’ll fill in the gaps in a later article.
We also tend to be a bit silly. We hope you appreciate our humor and the levity it injects in between more serious articles.
Our hope is that other educators, community leaders, parents, and anyone else either drawn to the arts or seeking paths towards personal growth and development will find use in the information we present. The interventions and activities described in this blog are by no means a replacement for traditional therapy. Rather, this blog and its authors simply seek to fill those other 23 hours.
References
Dufrene, P. (1991). Utilizing the arts for healing from a Native American perspective:
Implications for creative Arts therapies. Editor of Canadian Journal of Native Studies.
Trieschman, A. E., Whittaker, J. K., & Brendtro, L. K. (1969). The other 23 hours: Child-care work with emotionally disturbed children in a therapeutic milieu. Aldine.