What do you think?
Rate this book
Art Is a Spiritual Path: Engaging the Sacred through the Practice of Art and Writing
Art is a spiritual path—not a religion, but a practice that helps us knit together the ideals and convictions that guide our lives. Creating art can be prayer, ritual, and remembrance of the Divine. And the sharing of this creativity with others in small groups can serve as sanctuary, asylum, ashram, therapy group, think tank, and village square. Pat Allen has developed a reliable guide for walking the path of art through a series of simple practices that combine drawing, painting, and sculpture with journal writing. Designed for readers at any level of artistic experience, the book shows how
• awaken the creative force and connect with the divine source of creativity
• access inner wisdom and intuition about life issues, including both personal and community concerns
• find a path to meaning that includes honoring, celebrating, and giving thanks
• explore the images and symbols of traditions such as Catholicism, Judaism, shamanism, and Goddess worship
• join in spiritual community with others who are following the path of art
• discover that artmaking can help us live our ideals and be of service in the world
Detailed examples from the author's own practice of art, plus the stories and images of several other people, are presented to illustrate how art becomes a spiritual path in action. At the author's virtual studio, www.patballen.com, readers can post their images and writings, communicate with the author, and subscribe to an electronic newsletter. The site also contains an archive of the images in this book in full color.
• awaken the creative force and connect with the divine source of creativity
• access inner wisdom and intuition about life issues, including both personal and community concerns
• find a path to meaning that includes honoring, celebrating, and giving thanks
• explore the images and symbols of traditions such as Catholicism, Judaism, shamanism, and Goddess worship
• join in spiritual community with others who are following the path of art
• discover that artmaking can help us live our ideals and be of service in the world
Detailed examples from the author's own practice of art, plus the stories and images of several other people, are presented to illustrate how art becomes a spiritual path in action. At the author's virtual studio, www.patballen.com, readers can post their images and writings, communicate with the author, and subscribe to an electronic newsletter. The site also contains an archive of the images in this book in full color.
- GenresSpiritualityArt
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2005
17 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 30, 2022
This wasn't as mind-opening for me as her first book, but it was still interesting.
The focus here is all about having one's art "witnessed" by others; talking about a piece in front of a small group that is not to give feedback or response. It is more about the artist's process and less about the finished product.
This would be intriguing for a few chapters, but it's the entire book- Allen talks *extensively* about the pieces *she* has made, how important and sentimental they are and how important the art she makes for herself is to her. Worse than hearing about a total stranger's dream about being trapped in the DMV. Pat forces you to be "witness" [aka captive audience] to her personal feelings, prejudices, and overall self-indulgence about art and artists.
Interesting concept though, and I enjoyed the stories about other students that weren't Pat. ....But the entire book is literally about her, even when she describes the other students.
Ohhhh artists *fart*
The focus here is all about having one's art "witnessed" by others; talking about a piece in front of a small group that is not to give feedback or response. It is more about the artist's process and less about the finished product.
This would be intriguing for a few chapters, but it's the entire book- Allen talks *extensively* about the pieces *she* has made, how important and sentimental they are and how important the art she makes for herself is to her. Worse than hearing about a total stranger's dream about being trapped in the DMV. Pat forces you to be "witness" [aka captive audience] to her personal feelings, prejudices, and overall self-indulgence about art and artists.
Interesting concept though, and I enjoyed the stories about other students that weren't Pat. ....But the entire book is literally about her, even when she describes the other students.
Ohhhh artists *fart*
February 7, 2017
This book inspires, although without being fully engaging. In the end, Allen's ideas appeal to me both as an artist and as one in need of community, and I would recommend it for anyone wanting to make art to discover a deeper self, for the reasons below.
The concept is basically that of making art and witnessing art in small, close groups. She describes the function and process of the Open Studio Project she helped found, and she details the work there: Artists come together in a public space to set individual intentions, make art in the same space, and then witness their artworks with each other.
The concept of "witnessing," by which one attends in writing to the piece and even enters into dialogue with it, drew my interest especially. It can be done in a communal setting or privately by an artist. I'm experimenting with it a little in my own practice. The book does a great job of explaining this idea and exemplifying it (although the latter maybe a bit too redundantly). Witnessing with is a cathartic process, perhaps akin to therapy. An artist bears witness to her work, and the others listen in open, compassionate silence.
The conclusion of the book adds an important dimension. Having left the Open Studio Project, Allen sought a way to touch the world and do good work in a wider sphere of influence. In other words, she wanted to "make a difference." Her conclusion, after witnessing artwork with this intention, should be an inspiration to anyone longing for a way to help the world compassionately. The book may be worth reading for those artists (i.e. could be anyone) feeling helpless and directionless in the face of a troubled world, just to reach this conclusion with her.
The answer? "Don't just do something; sit there!" If this sounds intriguing, and you're interested in making art of any kind, this book may be useful.
The concept is basically that of making art and witnessing art in small, close groups. She describes the function and process of the Open Studio Project she helped found, and she details the work there: Artists come together in a public space to set individual intentions, make art in the same space, and then witness their artworks with each other.
The concept of "witnessing," by which one attends in writing to the piece and even enters into dialogue with it, drew my interest especially. It can be done in a communal setting or privately by an artist. I'm experimenting with it a little in my own practice. The book does a great job of explaining this idea and exemplifying it (although the latter maybe a bit too redundantly). Witnessing with is a cathartic process, perhaps akin to therapy. An artist bears witness to her work, and the others listen in open, compassionate silence.
The conclusion of the book adds an important dimension. Having left the Open Studio Project, Allen sought a way to touch the world and do good work in a wider sphere of influence. In other words, she wanted to "make a difference." Her conclusion, after witnessing artwork with this intention, should be an inspiration to anyone longing for a way to help the world compassionately. The book may be worth reading for those artists (i.e. could be anyone) feeling helpless and directionless in the face of a troubled world, just to reach this conclusion with her.
The answer? "Don't just do something; sit there!" If this sounds intriguing, and you're interested in making art of any kind, this book may be useful.
May 19, 2008
Ok, so there were chunks of this book that I skimmed through and did not thoroughly read. There is my confession. I also have to confess that the author was a teacher of mine when I was in graduate school. Now that the full disclosure of information is complete, I will say that it is a book well worth reading by artists, spiritually minded people and anyone with an interest in saving the world.
The entire text gives solid, usable suggestions for connecting to forces outside of ourselves and approaching the world with grace and care.
The reason that I skimmed parts of the book is that I was just more interested in the author's ideas and experience with art than her descriptions of other people's art process. But I think many people would benefit from reading those vignettes. I may go back to it at some point.
The entire text gives solid, usable suggestions for connecting to forces outside of ourselves and approaching the world with grace and care.
The reason that I skimmed parts of the book is that I was just more interested in the author's ideas and experience with art than her descriptions of other people's art process. But I think many people would benefit from reading those vignettes. I may go back to it at some point.
August 19, 2009
I had somewhat mixed feelings about this. First of all, I enjoyed it and got some inspiration regarding where I would like to go with a career after graduate school. I had visions of creating a "therapeutic" art studio in one of the old Pawtucket mill buildings.
The part I had trouble with is that I think sometimes (if not almost always) art therapists have a reputation for being a little weird, for lack of a better word. By weird, I mean, something along the lines of overly new-agey and air-heady. It could easily be argued that this book feeds into that stereotype. It was a little too much peace and love for me and not quite enough scientific-mindedness, which the art therapy field often (but not always) lacks. Unfortunately, the term "spirituality" also lacks a sense of realism/rationality, so the title should have clued me into what to expect.
Overall, a useful read.
The part I had trouble with is that I think sometimes (if not almost always) art therapists have a reputation for being a little weird, for lack of a better word. By weird, I mean, something along the lines of overly new-agey and air-heady. It could easily be argued that this book feeds into that stereotype. It was a little too much peace and love for me and not quite enough scientific-mindedness, which the art therapy field often (but not always) lacks. Unfortunately, the term "spirituality" also lacks a sense of realism/rationality, so the title should have clued me into what to expect.
Overall, a useful read.
December 3, 2014
This book, Art is a Spiritual Path by Pat B. Allen, continues to inspire me. I loved it and delighted in it when I first read it and I'll take it off the shelf and open it almost anywhere to become excited again at the wonder that artmaking is, the heart expansion and connection that it is.
February 27, 2009
Read this for Graduate school. I found it helpful.
October 4, 2010
right on target...
January 4, 2011
The ideas in this book are really important to be had, especially by a creative and spiritual person who might seperate the two. Intentionality is an excellent idea in the book as well.
April 9, 2014
I took this book with me to a weeklong quilt workshop and used its ideas to deepen my inspiration and design process. I would love to keep going with it; it made for a very rich experience.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews