For my exploration of media this week I chose a perhaps non-traditional approach to the story cloth. I chose to engage in a form of story cloth or embroidery, but on paper rather than on a more traditional fabric or textile material. This required much more planning and delicacy in my work with this medium, which seemed to engage higher levels of functioning as it relates to the ETC. Simultaneously, there were aspects that seemed to engage kinesthetic and sensory components of my experience, especially as it pertained to the actual piercing of the paper with the needle and the pulling through of the thread. I found similar evidence of this in the text as it describes story cloths engaging emotional, cognitive and kinesthetic aspects in the making process (Leone, 2020). I chose to narrate a home which in this context feels very “American Dream” to me. I find this feeling ironic because what actually is the “American Dream?” Does it look the same today as it did when this term originated many decades ago, does it look completely different for each individual, does it even exist at all?
The story cloth can be used to do just what the title says, tell a story. I think that using story cloths in work with older adults with Substance-Related and Addictive disorders could prove to be a powerful tool in recovery. I think this could be especially powerful in a group setting. I was drawn to a particular quote from Kristel (2013) which reads, “The arts can transform our lives: they can tell challenging and dark truths, resolve conflict, bring communities together, and express what is often inexpressible in words” (p. 29). I feel that the use of story cloths with persons suffering from addictive and substance related disorders could be used in a couple of ways. One of these ways could be that persons are able to tell their recovery story, which could be ongoing and added to as their journey continues. It could also be used to explore a person’s specific relationship with their addiction or substance, also an ongoing and expanding narrative. This could allow persons to explore these dark truths that Kristel (2013) is referencing, while also building relationship with a community of persons with similar experiences and understanding for support.
References
Kristel, J. (2013). Exploring outside the box. Art therapy in practice. In P. Howie, S. Prasad, & J. Kristel (Eds.), Using art therapy with diverse populations: Crossing cultures and abilities (pp. 28-34). London: Jessica Kingsley.
Leone, L. (Ed.). (2020). Craft in Art Therapy: Diverse Approaches to the Transformative
Power of Craft Materials and Methods. Routledge
