Caritas-Goa conducts the first ‘Art as a Healing tool’ workshop in Goa
‘Art, as a Healing Tool’
Caritas-Goa organised a workshop comprising 10 sessions on an important aspect of human life namely, ‘Art, as a Healing Tool. At the valedictory function of the first workshop, Fr Maverick Fernandes, Director, Caritas Goa explained the vision to initiate the workshop was to enhance the personal capacity of the trainers to use Art as a Healing tool, assist others, particularly children, explore themselves so that many accrue benefits.
Lioba Knepple, mentor and facilitator of the workshop, quoting Pablo Picasso, stated that “art speaks where words are unable to explain”. She added that the workshop was designed to include non-artists with the aim of helping the people experience the positive strength from a new way to be creative and learn how to help others do the same.
Some of the participants expressed their understanding of what they felt about the workshop, Art, as a healing tool. Viola Fernandes, an occupational therapist at a Special School said “We tend to impose restrictions and rules on ourselves. Sometimes all we need to do is take the first step, flow along with the paints, loosen our guards and it ends up in a very gratifying work of art”. Supriya Pednekar, Administrator of Star Kids playgroup centre said, “We got to know new techniques that were taught with love patience and in a non-judgmental environment. I have already started using these techniques with children to help them experience the healing effect of art”. Dr. Amit Dias from the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Goa Medical College said “the potential of Art as a healing tool is untapped in medicine. Research has proved that art can impact emotional, social and cognitive development and can also help deal with stress”. He added “at the workshop we learnt various techniques in art and explored how it could be used as a healing tool for any age group – from children with autism to adults with Alzheimer’s disease”. Dr. Dias has been working with people with Alzheimer’s disease and felt that there is a lot of scope to explore the use of art in people with dementia. Amrita Singh a psychologist and participant said “Learning to let go, picking up colours that one vibrates with, and letting the uncertainty take over in a way does help those who feel overwhelmed with life’s disturbing situations”. Bharati Khandekar, a special educator said that she learnt a lot from the workshop. “We need to have freedom to express our art and feelings and the end result is always beautiful”, she confirmed. The workshop consisted of 30 hours of practical art work under the able guidance of Leoba Knepple who is a professional artist and is on a mission to promote art.