This composite of occupational information about the job of art therapist describes the job functions in terms of rehabilitation for mental patients, the retarded, and criminals. Copies of art work created by the mentally ill are included. Background information about mental illness and the historical development of the job are presented. As an…

This article discusses the use of visual arts activities to help young children cope with separation anxiety and sibling rivalry. Addressed to preschool and elementary school teachers seeking therapeutic classroom activities, the article suggests ways of using children's literature as starting points for drawing activities focused on anxiety…

Discusses the potential of continuing education in the visual arts for older adults. Reviews the characteristics of older adult students, the role of community colleges, older adults' interest in the arts, and benefits from arts participation. (AYC)

Compares and contrasts discipline-based art education with Viktor Lowenfeld's creative self-expression approach, using growth, medical, and molding metaphors. Maintains that these two approaches are similar because the views of the child, the teacher's role, and the relationship between them has not changed. (KM)

Maintains that art therapy encompasses the areas of mental health and art education. Presents a case study of three sisters from a family with a history of sexual abuse and illustrates how art therapy was used as part of their overall treatment. (CFR)

Presents three studies of children's ability to create and detect expressions of emotion in drawings. Compared to younger children, older children used more strategies, experimented with line and color, and were more likely to explore themes of death, aging, and illness. Includes sample drawings and statistical tables. (MJP)

Discusses the use of human figure drawings (HFDs) to uncover children's perceptions of the remarriage family. Such techniques may help counselors gain information, generate hypotheses, and plan interventions to improve children's lives. HFDs may provide counselors with the details needed to help children reframe problems and resolve conflicts.…

Provides a rationale for establishing art education programs for mentally retarded adults. Suggests that community-based programs can be set up in museums, senior citizen centers, libraries, universities, and recreation centers. Includes recommendations for future research on this topic. (CFR)

The Silver Drawing Test of Cognition and Emotion was standardized for Brazilian children (N=2,000). ANOVA results are presented for age and education groups from early grades on, including distinguishing adult education levels; results are compared for U.S. and Brazilian populations. Growth in test scores, emotional content responses, and…

This article integrates story and the form of qualitative methodology known as arts-based inquiry. The authors use this approach to provide a case study of Kal, a 15-year-old boy who had unsuccessfully attempted to end his life by "flying" off his apartment balcony. The paper begins with orientation to the background of this case and to…

The biology and art departments at the University of Indianapolis collaborated in creating a Biology for Artists course. It was first offered on a trial basis and was well received by students and the art faculty. This four-credit course consists of 2 hours of lecture and two 2-hour laboratory sessions per week, and it fulfills the university's…

Five articles describe effective ideas and techniques suggested by correctional educators. In "Warming Up: Mental Exercises for Successful Learning" (Louise Henick), warm-up exercises to help students get ready to learn are discussed, such as daily journals, word of the day, and quote of the day. "Keeping Students Posted" (Richard Johnson) shows…

There is an alarming trend in homelessness: children aged 17 and younger are the most rapidly growing group of the homeless; families continue to be a growing group of the homeless; and many people who are homeless were raised or have lived in the suburbs. Homelessness is no longer an inner-city phenomenon. Three homeless youth were interviewed…

Possible causes for adolescent suicide and its increase are reviewed, and suggestions are offered to educators and therapists for using poetry writing and visual arts to reach potential young suicide victims. At a developmental age when they become cognitively able to employ abstract concepts, adolescents find poetry writing a safe way to clarify…

This book describes "Revitalize," an arts and aging program developed for the Fine Arts Council of Florida. The rationale behind the program, research involved in its structures, the evolution of ideas, the selection of the Neighborly Center, Inc. as a partner agency, the designation of sites for the program, the choice of artists, and the intent…