Messy

What is messy for you?

I get very different answers to this question. The parents' answer is different from childrens', teachers' different from pupils'… Some don't like to be messy at all, some tolerate it.
But being messy can be very useful for some people, so I think we should do it more often - at home, in the schools, on holidays, at the workshops...

At the art therapy, when we learn about our klient (how he solves problems, what are his/her problems, what he/she likes...), we try to figure it out, if being messy would help the klient to go over his/her blockades. Being messy is useful for the people who handle their problems physically. They have a need to express theirselves with their body, with the movement.



We can be messy with the paint or clay. Clay is useful for the people who have too much energy or for the hyperactive people.

Some people have problems to touch the mess. They don't touch it with their hands, but they use one finger only. And some people don't want to make an 'ugly' picture...

This month I have an art therapy with a schoolgirl who was worried about making an ugly picture. We talked about what is ugly and what not a lot. Only after our conversation she became more relaxed and enjoyed being messy with the paint. That was a progress for us...

After some time, this mess (when this need will be satisfied) will organise itself in order, and then the art works will express the girl's inner self.

In our schools and kindergartens there is not enough awareness that the children have to express themselves in their own way and should not be creative just because they have to get a good grade. Children should explore different materials and test them not to get good grades, but to see which material will help them the most to express their inner self the way they want it. This is their need.



But, of course, for the 'messy' project we need the right equipment. We have to cover the creative space with protective covers, dress the klient and us into the clothes that can be dirty, choose the materials that will handle all the messy process...
And then: off we go and put our hands in the mess! :)

How about you - have you been messy lately?