President's Message

Amanda Gee, RCAT, RP
Lower Sackville, NS

The days are getting shorter, cooler, crisper. Even when the sun shines brightly, there is a freshness in the air, and leaves crunch under foot. The colours of the leaves all orange and red and yellow glow. It is my favourite time of year here in the Maritimes. The seasons change, and with them all living things adapt and change.

In my own practice as both an artist and an art therapist, I find my own creative practices change with the ‘seasons’ as well. Art making has always been a part of my own self care practice. It has always been how I process the world, my thoughts, my feelings. Most often my own art making is for myself only, never shared with the world, it is about process, about processing. Other times my art making if about showing process – the ‘how to’ to help clients to try a new technique for their own self expression.

This spider web artwork I am sharing here was created with mixed media and was part of putting together an idea for a group session. Encouraging exploration of wet and dry mediums, the spider web image came to mind. I forgot about all of the spiders in Nova Scotia and have found myself fascinated by them since moving home. They are always ‘creating’ and ‘recreating’ building functional structures that are full of beauty when caught in the sunlight or glistening with dew. As an artist and an art therapist I am also always creating and recreating, always growing, and always trying to create and recreate safe creative spaces in which my clients can do the same.

Wishing everyone a happy, safe and creative Fall season.