Expressive Arts Carnival No. 5: Wall

Welcome to the November 2010 edition of the Expressive Arts Carnival. This month's theme, see announcement, was to "draw a wall using any medium, and show what is on one or both sides."

It is my policy to not comment on art in the Carnival (maybe in the comments if discussions ensue). But I feel as though it is not my place to put words to others' art, especially healing art. Any words after the art is displayed are those of the artists.

Here are the entries in the order they were submitted.

Entry 1: Kylie

Kylie wrote: "This was drawn first in pencil, then with a felt tip pen and then later it was scanned into the computer and the colours were added digitally. The mask is the wall, on one side is us (my alts & I), on the other is the vines, rose & globe which are meant to represent life & the world. As we worked on this submission the same thought kept coming to me: Is it that the mask is keeping the world out (protecting us) or is it keeping us in (a cage), preventing us from living life?"

Entry 2: Ivory

Ivory wrote: "This was not easy. I tried to draw it, but couldn't. My mind had too much imagination that my hand could not articulate. For as long as I can remember, I feel as if everyone knows something I don't know, or they are intelligent in a way that I cannot be. This feeling is what makes me say that it is sometimes more painful to be aware of something than to be ignorant about its existence."

Entry 3: Castorgirl

Castorgirl wrote: "The green and purple are the colours in front of the wall.  These are the colours that protect the rest of the system, and the outside world, from the wall and what is behind it.  The purple acts as a warning, and the green as a grounding colour.  Then there is the black wall.  This wall must be strong and impervious.  The bright red, or anger, is the first thing bashing against the wall, then the shame of blue; before the black emptiness of the unknown.  Each of the colours is separated by mini black walls, to try and keep layers upon layers of protection occurring."

Entry 4: Splinteredones

Splinteredones wrote: "This piece was a self-portrait i did many years ago, when all I could see were the walls around me. They kept me from flying completely apart."

Entry 5: Paul

This was from a post here in May 2010, where I wrote: "the directive was to draw our relationship to treatment. As you can see from the image above, I felt quite split about that question. On one side, I felt as through there was this sense of blending of colors and views, held within a container of grounding brown. But on the other, there was pure black chaos. The two sides felt completely separated by a wall."

Entry 6: Kerro

Kerro wrote: "I can see that now, which is why I've shown my image as a window. The bricks in my wall have largely come down, but I'm still looking out on life, or some aspects of life, that are still out of reach, even if the 'decor' on my side of the window is nicer now."

Entry 7: Sanity is Knocking

Sanity is Knocking wrote: "I think this project has been liberating in that I've tried to address both sides of me, but challenging as I still don't know where that middle ground is. I still see things in colour or black and white, for the most part."

Entry 8: Katie

Despite her initial reservations about the prompt, Katie wrote: "I realized that I don't have to create an image of a wall that serves as a barrier. I can show a wall how it now feels to me. An old crumbling wall that no longer keeps things out. Because there is more to my life now than feeling that way."

Entry 9: OneSurvivor

OneSurvivor wrote: "At first glance, it appears that G-d is only on the other side of the wall and breaking through to me. However, He is actually on both sides of the wall... as evidenced by the signs on this side that He placed there. So, He is with me on this side. However, the wall of abuse blocks me from seeing Him fully... from experiencing Him fully. That is why He is bringing that wall down. That is why He is healing me.

Entry 10: Clinically Clueless

Clinically Clueless wrote: "This image represents the wall that I have of the defenses that hide the reality that I do not want to see or feel.  The wall has open spaces that allow things to flow back and forth which I am in the process of doing... exposing and accepting reality instead of hiding it behind my defenses.  I actually do know reality, but I won't, at times, allow myself to see it."

Entry 11: Jahda

Jahda wrote: "The title of this piece is 'Invisible Wall.' On one side of the invisible wall are the Many Mindstreams that continually obscure and distort my vision. On the other side is the Mind of Clear Light."

That's all folks! Thanks to all those who contributed. We had 11 entries (a tie for the most ever)! Thank you everyone! If you think this Carnival is worthwhile, then let others know about it and we can continue to increase the contributors for future months.

A heads up: Next month's theme will be "open", so any survivor art is fair game! If you have been on the fence about participating, next month would be a good time to jump in.

Also, I have a private mailing list for the Carnival. If you want to be on it, drop me an email to: paul@mindparts.org.