Therapy and ART or Educating Therapy- The Creative Edge

The Creative Edge was an event I attended at the Electric Lodge in July of Last year. You may wonder why it has taken me so long to write about it. I had some difficulty with my computer and also with my camera.  By the time the issues were resolved I had forgotten about wanting to write about this opening.    The artist for Creative EDGE, Dr. Terry Marks-Tarlow, Ph.D., is a psychologist who does not use art as her practice, but more as a way to explain her practice and as a personal means of expression.  She gave a talk at the Electric on July 12, 2014, and I attended.  This is a video I found of that show and discussion.

Naked Edges, A Gallery Exhibition Opening at Electric Lodge by Terry Marks-Tarlow PhD July 2014 Standard Definition from Buz Tarlow on Vimeo.

I like the Electric Lodge as it is an example of how a theater can be sustainable, and it also provides events open the community that are educational and entertaining.  It also provides events for small fees that allow new artists to perform and express themselves. I myself want to partake of one of their events to explore the possibility of performing some of my poetry.

The lobby of the Electric often has art work on display and for sale.  This particular night of course they had Dr. Marks-Tarlow’s work.  They also had her books for sale.

During the presentation the good doctor showed us pieces of her work while telling us stories of where her art grew from and how it evolved from her experiences as a psychologist.  It was interesting also how she used Art to explain her psychological theories.  Some of the images were the result of experiences she had working with particular patients.  My favorite is one titled “Tree of Life.”  I also liked that she plugged buying art.

I liked also how the good Doctor talked about how her exposure to the scientific mind of Richard Feynman and the mathematical geometric concepts of Fractals impact her sense of creativity and her perspective on the HUMAN condition.  Please do watch the video included in this article as it gives interesting insights into one person’s view of creativity and the human mind.  I like Feynman’s view that if a person becomes interested in something they can learn anything.  In other words, actors are trained and work to be who they are, they are not born to be who they are, but they must have an interest in acting. I would argue that there is a need to have the need or desire though to take a path.  YOU can not force a person to like something they don’t have an inclination to like.  I ponder now what part of man is born with an interest, or if it is by experience, or genetic.  I just know the answers for myself and we are each different and see the world from our own view.  It is an interesting thing to ponder.  Why do some people chose to draw and why do some chose to sing and why do some chose to ignore that art is even here?  My parents may have ordered a child to be interested in working in politics and government, but what they got was a child who wanted to sing and dance and pretend for a living.

  In addition to her art she also emphasized how despite her age she is an incredibly active woman.  Riding horses.  Dancing.  And Doing Yoga. 

During intermission a fiddler played while they showed images of the Doctor’s art.  Unfortunately I did not get his name but he was very good.

Check out the Electric and the good doctor’s work.  It might inspire you to think that life does not have to be in one box. None of us are one check mark.  Art is a part of a HOLISTIC well rounded life.  What art is for you can evolve and grow organically as you do.  Art is a gift.  It is a means to deliver messages and to release the humanity within to the world.

I am an actor and I have had some training in critical theory as a part of my Masters in Performing Arts Management. In order to graduate I had to convince the Performing Arts Department’s critical art theory teacher I understood what ART is.  The question however still is one I am realizing is changing for me.  Art is subjective.  Art is interpretive.  Art is truth.  Art is aesthetic.  Art educates.  Art heals.  Art can do all or only a few of these things.

Peace.