Renaissance Wellbeing Services
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
As an Art teacher and Art therapist understanding visual symbolism is mandatory. Art is a communication form, a visual language; however, unlike written and spoken languages it does not have a concise Webster dictionary that can be used to look up meanings. If, for example, I want to interpret the symbols in Durer’s Melancholia, then... Continue Reading →
Aristotle's philosophies have had profound influence on Christianity, Islam, and European cultures in general. Sometimes this influence has been good in the sense that it has promoted discussions about topic, other times Aristotle's influence can been seen as being negative. The later is particularly obvious when it come to reviewing how patriarchal systems have used Aristotle's writings to justify male supremacy
"Rip, Rip, Rip ... this is a battle, a war, and the casualties could be your heart and soul!" exclaims Mr. Keating (Robin Williams). The book ripping scene in the Dead Poet's Society is a classic. A class of young men, quietly await to have their minds filled with instructions on how to interpret the... Continue Reading →
Would the universe have been created if Ra had sex education? To explore possible responses to that question, I have written a satirical account of the Ancient Egyptian creation myth and juxtaposed it with the scientific theory of the Big Bang.
The process of seeing involves light entering our eyes and influencing the physiological mechanisms for sight in our brains. At the back of our eyes is our “retina” which is largely composed of “cones” and “rods” that interpret visual information. The cones and rods send communication signals via nerve impulses to our visual cortex and... Continue Reading →
When people first try art therapy there is often some level of self-consciousness. Thoughts and comments along the lines of “will my drawing be ‘good’ enough?” or “I haven’t been creative since I was a kid!” or “I can’t even draw a straight line!” often come up. Such things often arise as a result of... Continue Reading →
Renée Spencer, 2018, Tree of Hearts, pencil on paper - digitally enhanced Art therapy and neuroscience have an intimate connection. There are many facets to this which can be explored, however, as an introduction to the topic this article will be focusing on the creative process. Other connections between art, therapy, the brain, and mental... Continue Reading →