Art Therapy Films

Art Therapy Films

ART THERAPY: BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE

Filmography: I was inspired to make this short film in Fall 2007 after seeing a collection of drawings by children in Darfur. The visual testimonies of these children came about due to the initiative of Annie Sparrow, a pediatrician who while on a trip to the region asked the children to draw. Many of the drawings depict, with remarkable detail, Sudanese military, tanks, planes and helicopters attacking Darfuris who defended themselves with bows and arrows. The children's drawings revealed what they had witnessed, confirming atrocities to the Dafuris by Sudanese militia. In a ground-breaking move, the collection of images was submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has started proceedings against a Sudanese government minister and a militia commander accused of committing war crimes in Darfur.

I continue to be deeply moved by these children's drawings and the compelling story that continues to unfold. When words are not enough, image and symbol emerge to tell our stories. Equally, the drawings underscore the driving force behind art therapy-- the creative process of art making changes lives. Art therapists are using the power of art making to transform lives around the world, each and every day. To me, this is an ongoing example of Gandhi's message, that "you must be the change you want to see in the world."

The film premiered on my YouTube website on Thanksgiving Day 2007 and remained on site for four weeks, with a total of over 5000 views. I am working on making it available on DVD by mid-2008; please contact me for more information.