Can art really heal? I know for sure that in my case, that's true. Art has the ability to open your heart and to make a connection with other human beings and even with yourself. And of course when I mean art, I mean all art forms -- visual, theater, dance, movement, poetry -- anything that allows creativity.
I don't have a background in psychology nor am I an expert in any way when it comes to the human psyche, but it's an inexplicable feeling. It's like when you are at an art exhibit and you see a painting that moves you. You feel the artist's emotions - his/her pain or their joy. Art is so deeply personal, that visual art has driven me to tears many times. The artist is sharing what's inside of them, leaving them vulnerable to you and to others. I admire their courage.
Or it's the poet who speaks of the pain of her years of abuse and survival or the young man who speaks about the absence of his father, or the woman who speaks of sensual love. There's sure to be audience members who are able to connect with them. They give a voice to those who have remained silent.
Or it's that time when you are in the theater watching a play and the actors pour their hearts out so freely that you feel compassion for them and you are able to connect with the character in some way.
Art brings out your own feelings --those feelings that we hide underneath layers and the many responsibilities of daily life because we don't have time or due to other reasons.
Can art really save your soul? I don't know. But what I do know is that poetry and theater have blessed me with the opportunity to confront, share and deal with my own pain, forgive and let go. Everyone is different, I know. Not everyone is as sensitive as I am. I carry my heart on my sleeve, as they say.
My message is this. If you've never tried exploring art, give it a chance. Don't put barriers in front of you. One of my artist friends, who paints, once asked me if I had ever painted. I said that I couldn't even draw a stick figure. She just smiled and said that everyone is an artist.
So give it a shot. Write, pick up a book, visit a local cultural center's art exhibition, go to the theater, pick up a pencil and paper. Art doesn't have to be expensive either. There's plenty of free events in the community.
Discover. Play. You just simply never know. And art might possibly enrich your soul. Be brave.
Priscilla Rice is an actor, poet, mother and aspiring samba dancer. She has appeared in several plays at the Latino Cultural Center and helps coordinate a monthly spoken word event at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. She studied Broadcast Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin and has worked as a radio news/traffic reporter and assignment editor for various television stations. She currently works as an interpreter/translator. She is originally from Crystal City, TX and resides in Dallas with her son, Leo.
I don't have a background in psychology nor am I an expert in any way when it comes to the human psyche, but it's an inexplicable feeling. It's like when you are at an art exhibit and you see a painting that moves you. You feel the artist's emotions - his/her pain or their joy. Art is so deeply personal, that visual art has driven me to tears many times. The artist is sharing what's inside of them, leaving them vulnerable to you and to others. I admire their courage.
Or it's the poet who speaks of the pain of her years of abuse and survival or the young man who speaks about the absence of his father, or the woman who speaks of sensual love. There's sure to be audience members who are able to connect with them. They give a voice to those who have remained silent.
Or it's that time when you are in the theater watching a play and the actors pour their hearts out so freely that you feel compassion for them and you are able to connect with the character in some way.
Art brings out your own feelings --those feelings that we hide underneath layers and the many responsibilities of daily life because we don't have time or due to other reasons.
Can art really save your soul? I don't know. But what I do know is that poetry and theater have blessed me with the opportunity to confront, share and deal with my own pain, forgive and let go. Everyone is different, I know. Not everyone is as sensitive as I am. I carry my heart on my sleeve, as they say.
My message is this. If you've never tried exploring art, give it a chance. Don't put barriers in front of you. One of my artist friends, who paints, once asked me if I had ever painted. I said that I couldn't even draw a stick figure. She just smiled and said that everyone is an artist.
So give it a shot. Write, pick up a book, visit a local cultural center's art exhibition, go to the theater, pick up a pencil and paper. Art doesn't have to be expensive either. There's plenty of free events in the community.
Discover. Play. You just simply never know. And art might possibly enrich your soul. Be brave.
Priscilla Rice is an actor, poet, mother and aspiring samba dancer. She has appeared in several plays at the Latino Cultural Center and helps coordinate a monthly spoken word event at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center. She studied Broadcast Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin and has worked as a radio news/traffic reporter and assignment editor for various television stations. She currently works as an interpreter/translator. She is originally from Crystal City, TX and resides in Dallas with her son, Leo.
