Bridging Polarities Through Art

‘Bridging Polarities Through Art’ is one of the ‘therapies’ offered by the Learner Support Faculty at Constantia Waldorf School. It is a therapeutic approach based on the threefold picture of the child as body, soul and spirit.

This process art work is a developmental process, using language of form, colour and gesture to strengthen the sense of self. To quote Kandinsky, the famous Russian Expressionist artist of the last century, “when we work with colour a dual effect occurs. There is firstly a purely physical effect on the eye – charmed by the beauty of colours – which provides a joyful impression; but at the same time there is a much deeper effect causing a vibration and emotion in the soul – an inner resonance – a purely spiritual effect – by which colour touches the soul”.

As a practicing mental health professional, my training as a facilitator in this Art process work has profoundly influenced my work with children and young people. This work takes the human soul into the nonverbal arena and offers possibilities for creative transformation. The work is non-intrusive and offers the student a glimpse of their own inner awakening.

All artistic work strengthens the feeling center of the human being. Although free expression may be used to assess progress, it is not used therapeutically. Rather a path of healing exercises are created to lead the child towards balance and a stronger sense of self and wellbeing. A stronger sense of self manifests in what we call resilience. Resilience is the capacity to tolerate frustration, identify one’s own needs and come to terms with the social environment. Thus the resilient child experiences a measure of comfort in his or her own being and place in the social milieu. We are referring here to the development of emotional intelligence.

This quiet but powerful non verbal therapy addresses sensory difficulties, trauma, self-confidence, bully and victim dynamics, social difficulties, divorces and bereavement.

Working with colour, painting and pastels, encourages the expression of the soul forces. Their harmonies and disharmonies form the canvas of our emotional lives. The wet on wet painting allows for a breathing of the colour. Working with clay in form and gesture, one gives expression to unconscious soul forces. Clay also has a regenerating effect on the human life forces.

Observational drawing offers an opportunity to connect to the world outside of one’s self.

Black and White drawing affords the opportunity to get in touch with one’s own light and darkness.

Rudolf Steiner speaks of all artistic work as an antidote to the technological age in which we live, and the primary balancing activity for the sensory system.

I sometimes combine this art work with Sandtray work. This is a topic for another column.

Yvonne Herring

Yvonne is a Psychiatric Clinical Social worker. She is a Bridging Polarities through Art and Leadership through Art facilitator.
She is also an International Association for Expressive Sandwork Facilitator. She currently works as one of the school counselors at Constantia Waldorf School.