Art Therapy helps sooth the soul

Sara Williams, a third grader at Flemingsburg Elementary found the artwork of artist Thomas Freese interesting, especially the Joan of Arc painting.

“Art is an important and universal facet of human expression and is as old as human civilization. The use of art for healing is at least as old as the drawings on the walls of caves. Expressive arts include activities such as dancing, drawing, drama, creative writing, painting, writing poetry, making music, sculpting, and photography.” -

—Aron-Rubin

During a three-day Art for Life Camp held at the Fleming County Public Library last week, middle school and adult students learned the therapeutic value of expressive art through Music, Storytelling, Origami and painted projects.

Kentucky artist, author, storyteller, and musician, Thomas Freese, instructed the class and shared the therapeutic benefits of arts and crafts.

To help inspire students Freese shared some of his own creations and the folklore behind the different woods he uses to carve jewelry, whimsical art and paintings.

Freese is a Board Certified Art Therapist and Professional Counselor.

Aaron Ouderkirk, a student at Simons Middle School, had a wonderful time as he explored the different ways to be creative as an artist.

Aarons dad, Ryan, said his son, “enjoyed the art camp so much that he couldn’t stop talking about how much fun he had”.

Campers learned how to fold pieces of paper into various animal figures such as jumping frogs and pop-up story books and how to create a painted picture on a block of wood.

The Art for Life Camp was the result of an Arts Access Assistance Grant awarded to the Fleming County Library trough a program of the Kentucky Arts Council, which is supported by state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Along with the grant and additional funding from the Supporters of the FCPL, the library was able to host the Art for Life Camp in late August.

The theme, “Empowering Artists with Disabilities” was chosen by the Kentucky Arts Council in recognition of the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The public was invited to a reception at the library where the student’s final artwork was showcased last Thursday evening.

Just before the art reception took place, author and artist Thomas Freese, left, talks with Ginny Reeves about some of the mysterious photographs in his book Ghosts, Spirits and Angels: True Tales from Kentucky and Beyond.