Response Art to Develop a Social Justice Stance for Art Therapists

Abstract

Four recent art therapy graduates created reflective artwork to process the COVID-19 pandemic and U.S. antiracist demonstrations and protests. This viewpoint describes their arts-based responses and intersubjective meetings to practice reflexive cultural humility. Key discoveries included themes of power and privilege, vulnerability, and moving toward the discomfort of addressing racism. The processes describe how reflective art-making can cultivate creative spaces for difficult conversations, opportunities for mutual reflection, and foundation sharing with the wider art therapy community to practice.

Keywords:

• Art therapy
• social justice
• cultural humility
• response art
• intersectionality
• race

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Danielle Chen

Danielle Chen is an instructor in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Mercer University, Atlanta, GA, and a Doctoral Candidate in Art Education concentration in Art Therapy at Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.

Sarah Johns

Sarah Johns is an Art Therapist at Art It Out Therapy Center, Marietta, GA.

Lucy Romanik

Lucy Romanik is an Intensive Outpatient Executive Counselor at Turnabout, Inc., Tallahassee, FL.

Victoria Glasscock

Victoria Glasscock is a Creative Arts Therapist at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Harrison, NY.