Craft as a therapy

I have, since art school, struggled with art vs craft debate because it is such binary way of defining creative activity. I am bemused by ongoing arguments about what fits where and who is allowed to use which term. Over the years I have found it a maze of mostly snobbery and tribalism with a dash of some interesting insights. I have to be honest here, mostly the debate just bores me. For the purposes of what I want to explore in this blog I am using the word craft and applying it with a broad-brush stroke, but we could be talking about art.

Many of you may know I have worked as Creative Metals group therapist at CancerCare for over 15 years. I have been privileged to witness the strength and integrity of many people facing the biggest challenges in life. While this work is intense, emotional and difficult, it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. The format for the group is pretty simple. It is a mixed group of people who have experienced cancer themselves, or who are caring for a loved one with cancer or who are bereaved by cancer who learn how to use their hands to manipulate metal material in a supportive therapeutic environment.

The group participants use silver, copper, brass, and sometimes gold to craft items to cherish. Some projects are simply a meditational escape while some show a progression of patience and endurance. Other items are visual proof that not all days are horrible, and some are made to be heirlooms and gifts. These pieces often serve as further means to connect with community and loved ones. For example, a group member receives a compliment on their necklace, and they reflect or even share the difficult circumstances that lead them to learn how to make it. This becomes what I call “extra bonus therapy” as it is happening outside of the group and helps in a very organic way.

One might assume that someone on chemo is too weak to hammer out an ingot if they can barely stand up. I can tell you they would be wrong. One might imagine that a bereaved partner would not have space, time or energy to be creative. I would say those redefining their world need creative time. One may believe that a carer should spend their time in a specific way when time is short. And I would ask what could be more important than looking after oneself? And hammering the daylights out of silver can make you feel better. Is this because in a crazy unpredictable world metalsmithing can be highly predictable a bit like a maths equation? If I hit metal in this way with this particular hammer, I can get a repeatable result I am in control of. I have to control my hands and body to get that result and that level of focus is akin to meditation. Craft is, by its very nature, a therapy.

I firmly believe that using our hands is the “why and how” of how we evolved. Many scientists are linking hand evolution to the reason our are brains have become so big in evolutionary terms. Humans are unique in how we use these extremities- no other animal has the dexterity we do. And because we experience so much of our world through them, is not surprising that making anything with our hands is therapeutic.

Learning to create - be it art or craft - is ingrained in all of us. If you pause to really think about it, I bet you belive this is true. It might be growing plants, making music, cooking, writing, baking, dancing etc etc. So why do so many learners come into my life and start by explaining that they are crap at art, they can’t draw, or they haven’t a creative bone in their bodies? Could it be because we are not actively pursuing recreational creativity enough as adults? Or is it because we are limiting our perception of what creativity is? Are we judging our results with the lens of perfectionism and simply don’t feel we are good enough? Maybe we are too busy to realise that being creative underpins human wellness?

Creativity is therapy for our souls, and we should view it like sleep, food and exercise. The results from being creative can be incredibly useful of course but the hidden benefit is that it allows us time to relax, think and grow. We don’t need to be perfect; we just need to be prepared to make some mistakes in the process and be proud of our results no matter how good or bad.

Well, what is this blog about? I am hoping to encourage you, the reader, to take a little inventory on your creative time. Can you do some self-care in 2023 and allow more time to play, be creative and maybe share your art/craft/hobby/love with another?