Today I Am an Art Therapy Student. Luke.
Sharing in this post a poem and photo collage by art therapy student Luke Gustafson. We connected recently in an end of summer eco-art therapy workshop intensive facilitated by Susan Beniston and myself at The Toronto Art Therapy Institute. Within the co-creating and co-learning gathering I witnessed first hand Luke's caring exploration of materials, thoughtful reflections, and his enthusiastic and playful mark-making in the process, while trusting responsive narratives in his artmaking.
Thank you Luke for sharing your powerful art and meaningful words that express the uncertainty or unknowns of your lived experiences while landing in an embodied place of faith, openness and hope.
Yesterday I was an animation professional.
Today I’m an art therapy student.
Tomorrow I don’t know what will happen.
Yesterday I was nameless.
Today I’m an active member of my community.
Tomorrow, I accept, is unknowable.
Yesterday I awoke alone in a field.
Today I’m a member of Timiskaming First Nation.
Tomorrow is like a seed, awaiting.
Yesterday I came to and asked, “why me?”
Today I awoke and said, “what is Thy will?”
Tomorrow is inevitable and unspoken.
Yesterday I whistled in a sick forest.
Today I’m learning about my limitations.
Tomorrow is beyond my immediate control.
Yesterday I was terrified.
Today I hear my intuition.
Tomorrow is not yet born.
Yesterday I had a chip on my shoulder.
Today I have faith that I will be cared for.
Tomorrow will rise.
Luke Gustafson
