RESEARCH

On a recent trip to Italy, I ordered an espresso at a coffee bar. The friend who was with me showed me how to swipe the rim with the provided lemon rind before drinking. She explained that adding sugar is not advised. When I asked why, she said, “We savor the bitter as much as the sweet. It helps us appreciate the sweet even more.” This moment served to remind me how important it is to have these contrasts in our daily lives. The good and bad, sun and shadow, dark and light. Without knowing the spectrum of darkness, sadness, pain, and despair, one cannot truly understand or appreciate the plethora of life’s positive emotions. For me, Anne Labovitz’s exhibition, The Nexus of Well-Being and Art, is a visual representation of these ideas. It is a creative manifestation that illustrates life’s challenges as well as the human need for connection. Labovitz uses the interplay of light and shadow as a platform for the expression of these ideas.

During her research for this show, Labovitz revealed that she had read and reread the works of the renowned author Viktor Frankl. A psychologist and researcher, Frankl believes that “what then matters is to bear witness to the uniquely human potential at its best, which is to transform a personal tragedy into a triumph, to turn one’s predicament into a human achievement.” Taking a deep dive into his insights about the important function of finding purpose within suffering, Labovitz was inspired to express her own deeply personal pain and loss. Her work Will to Meaning is not only a reverent nod to Frankl; it is also what she describes as “an extended, durational meditation of meaning.” The piece, which measures eight hundred linear feet, depicts a timeline of pain, loss, grief, and healing. It embodies these feelings and processes conceptually, physically, and through the use of natural light streaming through the skylights. Its monumental size, its incorporation of streaming light, and its connection to a sense of personal loss are also references to Labovitz’s WaterSunset Memories of 2022, a recent installation at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

Through visual representation, Labovitz asks: “Can color, light and atmosphere provide a pathway toward well-being?” In her series LightWindows she explores further the dynamic tension between dark and light through works that are lit from within, bringing them to life. The illuminated pigment dances on the surface, creating the illusion of depth and texture, and the effect is visually stunning. Labovitz describes these lighted sculptures as a direct connection to the metaphor of dark and light: “The darkness is ever-present. We must consciously choose the light we allow in. We must choose to see the obstacles as opportunities. We must choose optimism.” While the work is deeply personal and transformational, Labovitz invites the viewer to contemplate their own response and engage in the act of witnessing as an invitation for self-reflection and healing. 

Creativity as a Path to Healing  

On the heels of the global pandemic, Labovitz was challenged to contemplate the healing aspects of art as it relates to both the individual and the larger community. While the intersection between the arts and healing has been well documented throughout history, we as a society are just beginning to understand how to measure the influence that exposure to the arts has on positive patient outcomes. There is substantial evidence that individual well-being is paramount to cultural efficacy. A healthy individual is one who has achieved a sustained sense of physical and mental well-being. Research indicates that when individuals engage in cultivating well-being, they not only behave in healthier ways but are more likely to address mental and physical illness, become more socially connected, and have a more positive outlook on life, longevity, and self-perceived health. Healthier individuals lead to healthier communities, and healthier communities thrive in transcendent ways. 

Throughout The Nexus of Well-Being and Art, Labovitz invites us to consider the process of self-discovery in a more conscious and purposeful way, by encouraging an internal dialogue of self-inquiry. What if we were able to distill wisdom from our painful experiences? Would they linger on in our behavior and emotions? What if we actively and consciously dedicated ourselves to extracting meaning from those experiences in order to discover the divine lessons within? When we go through this excavation process, we are typically clear about what we no longer want to endure. The bigger question, perhaps, is how we will go about it. 

 Public Art and Human Connection 

As part of the exhibition, Labovitz invites her audience to create individual artworks to contribute to a larger, ever-evolving Well-Being Wall, using 6 x 6-inch squares she has designed and individually grommeted by hand. Viewers are invited to choose a square, write or draw something on it in response to the artist’s question, “What does well-being mean to you?,” and add it to the wall. Stickers, which the artist has also created, are offered as a gratitude gift to each museum visitor. This thoughtful consideration of the visitor is intended to provide a joyful, intimate, and reciprocal experience, by encouraging participants to not only process their individual responses as viewers but to share in a collective experience with the artist and their community. 

Creating and viewing art together is an act of alliance, promoting cohesion and providing fertile ground for the propagation of cross-cultural and cross-generational experiences. Labovitz’s work intentionally provides a pathway to deeper comprehensive understanding and fosters a sense of belonging and community. It serves as a conduit for exploring well-being, wellness, and the healing process from a wider global perspective and affords us the opportunity to perpetuate healing on a much grander scale. 

The Art Process

While the act of creating provides a container for processing what is yet to be understood, acknowledged, and/or healed, it is inherently optimistic, as it invites movement. Even in the smallest, most incremental ways, creativity causes shift. Shift is movement, and movement is the first crucial step in the change process. 

The very act of creating stimulates the senses, activates the mind, and calms the nervous system. Even being in a creative space has similar effects. The healing through self-expression that comes from creating is intrinsic and often unconscious. Our internal dialogue begins to shift, and the story we tell ourselves about who we are begins to change. Engagement in the ritual of creation brings alignment and comprehensive understanding. Research supports the idea that exposure to the arts and the act of creating activate the parts of the brain that produce “feel good” neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. 

These biochemical changes that occur by simply viewing art have the potential to affect health outcomes both for the individual and the larger population. While we are just beginning to understand its impact, it is accurate to say that participating in the creative process is all-encompassing. Not only does it influence the well-being of an individual’s mind, body, and spirit but it also has a positive impact on the well-being of communities. 

Conclusion

This exhibition is a “nexus” that encourages us to develop resiliency and wisdom through creative acts. At the same time, Labovitz’s work reminds us to fervently search for meaning, as it is what nourishes the soul, and to acknowledge both the light and the dark while honoring the lessons they offer. Pain, loss, and grief present us with opportunities or obstacles, depending upon how we choose to see them. Finding purpose and meaning in pain, or in difficult or traumatic events, is what activates emotional and intellectual growth and healing. Those who can internalize the meaning of their painful and damaging experiences often become beacons of wisdom and faith for others. 

As we cultivate new ways of being in the world, we build the capacity to free ourselves from the pain and suffering that often hold us back. As we grow in our self-actualization, we acquire more bandwidth to witness and attend to those around us who are embarking on their unique and sacred paths. Labovitz’s work offers a portal into the process of rebirth, regeneration, and self-discovery.

References

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Frankl, V. E. (1969). The Will to Meaning. New York: New American Library. This book has been cited in the following article: Bakracheva, M. (2019). “Coping Effects on Life Meaning, Basic Psychological Needs and Well-Being.” Psychology, 10: 1375–95.

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Karpavičiūtė, S., and Macijauskienė, J. (2016). “The Impact of Arts Activity on Nursing Staff Well-Being: An Intervention in the Workplace.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(4): 435. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13040435

Lankston, L., Cusack, P., Fremantle, C., and Isles, C. (2010). “Visual Art in Hospitals: Case Studies and Review of the Evidence.” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 103(12): 490–99. https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2010.100256

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Lisa Bravo, DBH, LPC, LISAC

Dr. Bravo is the author of the best-selling book The BRAVO Effect: Strategies for Parenting Extreme Teens (2021). She is a highly acclaimed psychotherapist, speaker, author and teacher. Dr. Bravo is an expert in family dynamics and human behavior. Her unique approach has bolstered her belief in the exceptional power of creativity as it pertains to health and healing. 

In Dr. Bravo’s words, “adolescents are innately creative beings who explore and process their ever-evolving worlds through artistic and creative modalities. Their painful experiences are often best processed through nonverbal channels. The use of art and creativity removes the need for verbal exchange, while still bringing order to chaos, and stability to the constantly shifting sands of adolescence.” 

Dr. Bravo holds a doctoral degree in behavioral health from Arizona State University, and maintains a thriving private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has served as clinical supervisor and professor in the Graduate Counseling Program at Arizona State University, and provides private training and supervision to aspiring counselors. Dr. Bravo is also a regular consultant to various media and news outlets, academic institutions, and behavioral health organizations throughout the country.