Editor's Notes

Patricia Ki (RCAT, RSW, PhD Cand.)
Toronto, ON

Brave new world.

The title of Aldous Huxley’s 1932 dystopian novel kept coming to mind when I worked on this issue. I read the novel in high school decades ago. I actually don’t recall much of it. But somehow my mind is drawn to the words: Brave. New. World. — for what surely feels to many like a dystopian or even apocalyptic reality we find ourselves in currently.

Surviving the pandemic, grappling with the effects of cultural genocide, becoming aware of longstanding systems of power and violence, confronting our complicity, coming to terms with our responsibilities — so much we wish could be different, so much we wish to make a difference, so much we still don’t know about where or how or what to begin.

Knowing that we don’t know, but taking a step forward anyway. Joining the movement for change anyway. Showing up anyway. Speaking out anyway.

Brave. New. World.

I am very grateful for the inspiration and creative energy contributed by the art therapy students in this issue, who bravely accepted the challenge of putting their work out here, honestly sharing their learnings and feelings, speaking for what’s important to them, speaking against injustices — thereby enacting changes for our new shared worlds, cultivating hope toward a different future.

And I am always grateful for the practitioners and mentors further along on their journeys in art therapy, who generously share with this community the insights from their creative processes, experiences, vulnerabilities, and learnings from other human and non-human mentors, offering guidance and extending care to readers, learners, and other practitioners they may or may not ever meet.

I am grateful for this community of contributors, and the many, many contributors who have shared work with us. Because I have had the privilege to work with you, I am hopeful that our world will change, through learning, humility, imagination, and care. I am hopeful that widespread flourishing and “to each according their needs for a good life” are not only theories, slogans or a dream but a reality that can be achieved by people who step up, show up, and care for one another.

I have been journeying with this magazine (and formerly newsletter) for over 5 years now. I feel that the time has come for me to step aside and create space for new energy and new visions — to reimagine and reshape this space in ways that exceed my envisioning.

Many, many thanks to CATA-ACAT presidents Amanda Gee (current) and Haley Toll (former) as well as Director of Research and Publications Mary Norton for affording me the creative freedom and opportunity to develop this platform, and trusting me with a publication that represents the association.

We’re looking for a co-editor to collaborate and learn the ropes with me for the next issue (October 2021), who will then transition into the editor role for the February 2022 issue and onward. If you have been trekking with this publication for some time and feel moved to join us, please see here for role description and requirements, and feel free to contact me at magazine@canadianarttherapy.org before August 1, 2021. I’d be happy to talk more about possibilities.