Caitlin Beidler
My experiences as an artist since studying art in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 2001 and graduating from the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Studio Art in 2002, have shown me that my mission is to restore individuals and relationships through art. My work is not about the piece itself, but the meaning behind it.
It can show a significant relationship, whether it is between best of friends, brothers and sisters, parent and child, or man and wife. It can represent healing, restoration, and reconciliation in a relationship or individual. It can visualize an individual’s passions, therefore encouraging that individual to go after what he or she has been gifted with in life. It can capture a moment in time— a memory, a story that bears much significance, or a turning point in life. It can be a symbolic representation of a feeling or emotion. Overall, it can communicate when words are inadequate.
In the future, I hope to go to graduate school to study the effectiveness of combining art and therapy. In my experience, I have seen how the creative process can facilitate the therapeutic process, especially when an individual—child or adult— is not able to express themselves with words.
