Dear Sue Grayson Ford
I am very pleased that the topic of drawing for health has broken out
of the bounds of therapy, this is as you suggest a large topic and any
meaningful needs to at least recognise this. Through my work as an
ecological artist, researcher and postgraduate course leader I am
exploring different drawing activities - not all are healthy.
However, between the observations and inventions of Leonardo da Vinci,
the sublimity of Paul Klee, the Happenings of Alan Kaprow, the
performances of Joseph Beuys and the philosophy Michaelle D'Certeau,
David Hockney talked about 'the way we depict space determines what we
do with it'. The ability to be conversant in a visual language that
allows us to be connected to our environment is crucial for us to find
our place in the world - a sort of 'eco-individuation'. However,
visual languages, like written and verbal languages may carry power and
have cultural constraints - we can see the right to own the world in
Descartes' grid system and the right to control it in Renaissance
rectilinear perspective. And so, I pursue a form of 'phenomenological
drawing', that is understanding the way things draw themselves. I call
it 'ecopoiesis' and will developing a series of postgraduate workshops
in this in the coming year - the way we depict or world determines what
we do with it.
I hope this is a useful addition to your inquiry. Please let me know
if you would like more information.
Best Regards
David
David Haley BA(Hons) MA Research Fellow
SEA: Social & Environmental Arts Research Centre (MIRIAD)
Leader of MA Art As Environment
Manchester Metropolitan University
Postgraduate Research Centre
Cavendish North Building, Cavendish Street,
Manchester M15 6 BY
Tel: +44 (0)161 247 1093
Fax: +44 (0)161 2476870
On 12 Aug 2004, at 12:11, Drawing Power (info) wrote:
> This is sent on behalf of Sue Grayson Ford, Director of the Campaign
> for
> Drawing.
> I have already asked for contributions to brief the Independent
> journalist,
> Julia Stuart, who is preparing an article on drawing and health. My
> thanks
> to those who responded. You should be contacted soon. However the
> article
> has broadened out from exploring drawing in therapy to considering much
> broader topics(see questions below). If you wish to contribute to this
> article, please contact me quickly.
> Best wishes
> Sue Grayson Ford
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Tel/Fax: 020 8351 1719
> Campaign website: www.drawingpower.org.uk
> <http://www.drawingpower.org.uk>
>
>
> DRAWING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
>
>
> Over the last decade, a growing body of research indicates the link
> between
> social well-being and arts activity - and drawing rates high.
>
>
> Like all absorbing and enjoyable tasks, drawing affects physiological
> functions, lowering heart, blood pressure and respiratory rates
> it creates hand/eye co-ordination, stimulating neurological pathways
> (a kind
> of gym for the mind);
> not least by involving an act of creativity, it increases self-esteem
> and a
> sense of connection with the world.
> Is this so? Is there anyone on The Drawing Research Network who can
> support
> this?
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