Lists criteria that define a profession and discusses how the American Art Therapy Association meets these criteria. Discusses the role of the client-artist relationship, beauty as a motivator of art, art as a gift, as well as art and healing. Concludes that art therapy is an idea that has been made a profession by the people who practice it.…

Focuses on group dynamics of multiethnic peoples interacting with installation sculpture by Jean Dubuffet. Identifies those dynamics that become activated when responding to an aesthetic stimulus. Considers resulting behaviors within ethological/phenomenological framework and applied to practice of art therapy. (NB)

Discusses importance of addressing culture, values, and aesthetics in training of art therapists. Illustrates how students can be guided to discover and examine influence which culture has on their own and others' perceptions of different modes of artistic expression. Contends that newly gained sensibility can give direction to students'…

Discusses the limits to fitting aesthetic experiences into theories of education or curricula, claiming that this often results in aesthetic alphabetization. Contrasts this to the aesthetic education possibilities in art therapy. Beginning with a statement by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, theorizes about the existence of an aesthetic self-identity. (CH)

Art in context of community is the theme of this newsletter. The theme is introduced in an editorial "Community-Enlarging the Definition" (Kit Grauer). Related articles include: (1) "The Children's Bridge is not Destroyed: Heart in the Middle of the World" (Emil Robert Tanay); (2) "Making Bridges: The Sock Doll…