Hussey1

SabrinaHussey

CPEnglish12

Mr.White

Period3

20November2015

SeniorProjectResearchPaper

IntroductiontoSeniorProject
FormyseniorprojectIamhavinganartshowwithathemeofincorporatingthecolor
purpleintotheartpieces.Iamdonatingthemoneysoldfromtheartpiecestopancreaticcancer
research,anddonatingtheartpiecesnotsoldtoahospital.Sincemynanadiedofpancreatic
cancer,Iwanttoraiseawarenessofpancreaticcancerinherhonorbecauseitdoesnotget
supportedenough.Iwanttobringtotheattentionofothersthatarttherapyisanotheroption
cancerpatientshavethattheymightnothaverealizedwasanoptionbefore.Iintendtomakethis
impactbyhavingapresentationatmyartshowtoraiseawarenessofpancreaticcancerandthe
benefitsofartoncancerpatientsorpatientswithillnesses.Ihopetheviewersofmyartshowcan
gohomewithmoreknowledgeonthissubjectmatter.IanticipatethatIwillneedtobeableto
haveknowledgeonspiritualhealthandarttherapyinordertomakeagreatpresentationatmyart
show.Ialsoanticipatethatpeoplemaynotwanttobuytheartwork,itmaybehardtogetenough
peopletocometomyartshow,theartistsatmyartshowwillneedtoknowtheparametersin
whichtheyaretocreatetheart,Iwillneedtobeabletostayontrack,andtheartshowwillneed
tobevisuallyappealing.Inordertobepreparedformyanticipateddifficulties,Iwillbe
researchingwhyspiritualhealthisimportant,whyarttherapyisbeneficialanditsimportancein
contributingtospiritualhealth,andhowtocombatmyanticipatedproblems.Withmysenior

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project,Iintendtoinformtheviewersatmyartshowoftheimportanceofspiritualhealth,the
benefitsarttherapyhasonmanagingcancersymptoms,pancreaticcancerawareness,andIwant
topersuademyviewerstobuyartworkatmyartshow.
TheImportanceofSpiritualHealthandArtTherapy
Spiritualhealthisavitalstepontheroadtoachievingahealthierstateoflife.Spiritual
healthcanbedefinedashavinggoodfaithandabeliefsystemtohelponefeelconnectedto
themselvesandahigherpower(Hawks).Spiritualityisalsoaboutindividualsfindingpurpose
andmeaningintheworld,findingconnectionwithnatureandothersalongwiththemselvesanda
higherpower(Ettun,Rachel,Michael,Shultz,andGilBarSela).Spiritualhealthhadnotbeen
defineduntilrecentlyanduntilthelastfiftyyears,aholisticviewofhealthhadnotbeen
considered.Beinghealthyisnotonlyabouthavinggoodphysicalhealthbutitalsoconsistsof
havinggoodemotional,social,intellectual,andspiritualhealthaswell(Hawks).
Spiritualwellnessincorporatesaperson'svaluesandbeliefsthatprovidepurposeinone's
life.AccordingtotheCollegeofMedicine,itisbettertoatleastwonderaboutyourown
spiritualityandmeaninginlifethentoshutoffyourmindandbecomecompletelyintolerantto
anythoughtsaboutspirituality(CollegeofMedicine).Adeepbeliefsystem,aviewoftheworld,
connectednesswithothers,motivation,faith,compassion,concernforothers,awanttofind
meaningandpurpose,selfesteem,andpersonalfulfillmentareparalleltohighlevelsofspiritual
healthoratleasttheroadtogetthere.InlinewithMaslowsHierarchyofNeeds,inorderto
achievespiritualhealth,youneedtofirsthavephysicalhealth,intellectualhealth,andsocial
health.Onceyouhaveachievedspiritualhealth,thenextstepaftersocialhealth,youcanachieve
emotionalhealthwhichistheidealhealthtohaveinordertobehealthyinallaspects(Hawks).

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Arttherapyisimportantforhelpingindividualstobeabletoexpressthemselvesthrough
creativeprocesses(LaLanne).Combiningartintocareforthespiritbringsamultidimensional
waytoengagewiththespiritandstrengthenspatientsabilitytodealwiththeirdiagnosisfor
theirtimeinthefuture(Ettun,Rachel,Michael,Schultz,andGilBarSela).Arttherapyis
startingtobeconsideredinthemedicalfieldasmorethanjustamentalhealthprofessionbut
aspartoftreatmentinwhichcancerpatientsusearttoexpressthemselvesandcommunicatetheir
innerthoughts,wants,andneedstothosewhotakecareofthem(LaLanne).Eventhoughartis
nowstartingtobeseenasavaluablepillarofspiritualcare,itisstilloftenneglected.Arttherapy
andthecreativeprocessingeneralallowsapatienttogetoutofbeingthepassivereceiverof
careandbecometheactivepatientwhoisabletochooseandcreate.M.Brassaidthatthrough
theprocessesofcreating,oneisactingonsurvival,growingthemselves,developingtheir
individual,betteringthecommunity,andacceptinguncertainty(Ettun,Rachel,Michael,Shultz,
andGilBarSela).
Arttherapycanbedefinedasusingthecreationofarttoimproveonesphysical,mental,
andemotionalhealth.Selfexpressionthrougharttherapyhelpsindividualssettletheirconflicts,
managebehavior,lowersstress,elevateselfesteem,andithelpsindividualstofind
selfawareness(ArtTherapyDefined).Arttherapyisnotconstrictedtojustproducingartbut
includesdramatherapy,dancetherapy,musictherapy,andwritingtherapy(ArtTherapy
DefinedLaLanne).Arttherapyisatechniqueforcopinginselfexpressionandselfawareness
thatusesseveralmediumstorelateinnerfeelingsandthoughtsbyameansthatverballanguage
cant(ARTTHERAPYTHEPSYCHOLOGICALBENEFITS).

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Arttherapyhasmanypositivebenefitsonhealthandisusedtoachievecertaingoals
(ARTTHERAPYTHEPSYCHOLOGICALBENEFITSArtTherapyDefined).Arttherapy
hastherapeuticeffectsonmental,physical,spiritual,andemotionalwellbeing/health(ART
THERAPYTHEPSYCHOLOGICALBENEFITS).Arttherapyisusedwithmanydifferent
agesincludingchildren,adolescents,adults,seniorcitizens,families,veterans,groupsofpeople,
andevenpeoplewithchronichealthissues(ArtTherapyDefined).Itallowsforemotionstobe
releasedthroughpersonalexpressionincreatingart.Ithelpsstrengthenone'segohelpingthem
togainabettersenseofidentitywhilediscoveringpersonalinterests.Arttherapycanhelppeople
revealtheirangerbyusingcolorandshapeandcanhelplowerguiltbyshowinginnerpast
feelingsofguilt(ARTTHERAPYTHEPSYCHOLOGICALBENEFITS).Arttherapyisused
toevaluateandattendtomentalandemotionalproblemsincludinganxietyanddepression,
addictions,relationshipissues,abuse,difficultiesinsocialandemotionalaspectsduetotrauma
andloss,disabilityandillnessproblemsthatarephysical,cognitive,orinrelationwiththe
nervoussystemandpsychosocialdifficultiesaspartofmedicalillness(ArtTherapyDefined).
Arttherapycanhelpmakeimpulsecontroleasierasitallowsforafreedomofselfexpression
insteadofsuppression.Arttherapyalsohelpspatientswithillnesseshaveanoutletandtoolin
ordertostrengthentheconnectionofthemindtothebodyinaselfhealingaspect(ART
THERAPYTHEPSYCHOLOGICALBENEFITS).
Arttherapycanhelpimprovespiritualhealthinindividuals.Arttherapyhasbeenseento
bebeneficialforcancerpatientsasithelpsthemdealwiththeirsymptomsandpromotesspiritual
health.Usuallywhenpatientsarediagnosedwithcancerandhavetostayinthehospital,they
developothersymptomsalongtheway.Thesesymptomsthatarecreatedalongthewayinclude,

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stress,anxiety,depression,alongwithsymptomsthatcomewiththecancersuchasnauseaand
tiredness(Ettun,Rachel,Michael,Schultz,andGilBarSelaHamerNainisNewsMeditation
CombinedwithArtTherapyCanChangeYourBrainandLowerAnxiety).Asdisplayedinthe
articleNewsMeditationCombinedwithArtTherapyCanChangeYourBrainandLower
Anxietystressisaninevitablesideeffectofhavingcancerandultimatelyleadstopoorerhealth
outcomes(NewsMeditationCombinedwithArtTherapyCanChangeYourBrainandLower
Anxiety).Whenpatientsstayinthehospitaltheybecomedepressed,depleted,andlack
selfconfidenceandhopeinmovingforwardlosingasenseofwholeness.ArtTherapyhasbeen
seentobeagoodsolutionintreatingthesesymptomsasithasbeenabletohelpreducepain,
reducedepression,improvetiredness,reduceanxiety,andimprovecopingskills.Theartsbringa
senseofmeaning,expression,andameanstocopewithdiagnosisasitallowsforanindividual
toacceptuncertaintyandisvitaltocreatingameaningfullifeandforanindividualtodevelop
spiritually(Ettun,Rachel,MichaelSchultz,andGilBarSela).
Thereareseveralstudiesthathavebeendonethatshowthatarttherapyandexposureto
artandcreativeprocesseshelppatientsdealwiththeirsymptomsandbecomemorespiritually
healthy.Justageneralexposuretoarthasbeenseentohelppatientsinthehospital(Hamer
Nanis).InexperimentsbeingdoneinLondonsChelseaandWestminsterHospitaltheyfound
that80%ofthepatientsacknowledgedthatarthelpeddistractthemfromtheirillnessesand
medicalproblems,andhelpedraisetheirspirits.Inoneexperiment,83patientsinthestudyatthe
hospitaldividedinto3groupsinwhichonegroupreceivedlivemusicduringtreatment,another
grouphadartworkhungonthewallsinthetreatmentareainwhichthepictureswerechanged
weeklytohaveavarietyofnewpicturesforpatientstosee,andagroupinthestandardhospital

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wardwithoutanymusicorart.Thegroupthathadartworkintheirtreatmentareahadanaverage
of18%loweranxietylevels(Hamer).
Evenifapatientisnotthepersoncreatingtheartbutstillhasasayinwhatisbeing
created,itisbeneficialtothepatient(Nanis).Theartworkslikeadistractiontooltohelpthe
patientshaveamorerelaxedandhopefuloutlookontheirdiagnosisiftheyaregoingthrough
cancer.Italsocreatesabetterenvironmentthatpeoplewanttobeinasthestaffhavebeenseen
tohavealowerturnoverrateandpatientsrecoverfasterastheydonotneedasmuchpainkillers
sincethebodyisinalessstressful,optimistic,andrelaxedplace(Hamer).Inastudydoneby
JudyPaiceandacollaborativeteamofresearchersatNorthwesternMemorialHospitalin
Chicago,theylookedattheresultsofusingarttherapytohelpcancerpatientsmanagetheir
symptoms.Someofthepatientswhocouldnotcreateartworkduetoswellingintheirhandshad
thearttherapistcreatetheartworkforthemdirectingthearttherapistonthecomposition,what
colorstouseandthetexturestomake.Thesepatientswereallequallyjoyedbytheresultsas
theywerestillpartoftheprocessandwereabletoexpressthemselves(Nanis).
Whenapatientiscreatingart,theresultsarepositiveemotionallyandphysically
(NewsMeditationCombinedwithArtTherapyCanChangeYourBrainandLowerAnxiety
Nanis).ThereisonestudybytheJeffersonMyrnaBrindCenterofIntegrativeMedicinethat
conducted
experimentsincorporatingarttherapywithastressreductionprogramforming
MindfulnessBasedArtTherapytheylookedat18breastcancerpatientsandhadthemdo
severaltasks,oneofwhichallowedthemtodoartallowingforselfexpressionandbettercoping
andselfregulationandemotionalawareness.Thisstudywasevaluatedbynotingthechangesin
thebrainsactivitybylookingatbloodflow,inotherwords,evaluatingchangesinthecerebral

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bloodflow,andtheresultsshowedthattherewereincreasestotheemotionalpartsofthebrain
meaningthattherewasasignificantloweringofstressandanxietyinthepatient's(News
MeditationCombinedwithArtTherapyCanChangeYourBrainandLowerAnxiety).
Inthe
studydonebyJudyPaiceandacollaborativeteamofresearchersatNorthwesternMemorial
HospitalinChicago,theylookedattheresultsofusingarttherapytohelptreatcancersymptoms
incancerpatients.Theyfoundthatthedepressionandanxietylevelswereloweredandinone
groupinvolvedinthestudy,theyevenfoundthattherewasadecreaseintiredness(Nanis).
Manypatientsinthestudiesdoneusingarttherapytotreatcancersymptomscan
personallyattesttothebenefitsfromarttherapy(HahnNanis).IntheJudyPaicestudy,many
patientsfoundthatarttherapywasavaluableoutletasitallowedthemtogettheirmindoffof
theirillnessandbetterdealwiththepain,expressthemselves,andallowedforquietrelaxation.It
alsohelpedthemtobettercopewiththeirillnessandallowsforpersonalgrowth(Nanis).Jackie
HullwholivesinFloridaandhashadpersonalexperiencewithcancerandarttherapysays:
Ibelievethatarttherapyisverybeneficial.Itallowstheindividualtoget
involvedinaprojectthatkeepstheirmindsawayfromanyproblemstheymaybe
encountering.Italsoallowsthetherapisttogetaninsighttosomeunderlying
currents.Theuseofdifferentcolorscanhavevariousmeanings.Theapplication
ofthemediumcanshowsignsofanger,peace,etc.Sizesofobjectsandtheir
relativitycanconveydifferentfeelings.WhenIhavebeenill,Ihaveusedmyown
arttherapy.Ithelpedgetthroughsometoughtimesandkeptmyhandsandmind
busy(Hahn).

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Althoughtheresultsareverypositive,thereisstillalottobediscoveredandexplained.
Moreproofisneededtoreallydescribethesepositiveeffectsofartinthehospitalenvironment
(Hamer).Morecontrolledstudiesneedtobedonesothattheresultscanhelptobetterrecognize
whichpatientsexperiencethemostsignificantbenefit,howlongtheeffectsofarttherapyare,
andhowmanysessionsofarttherapyareneededinordertohavelongtermeffects(Nanis).
Though,allthepositiveeffectshaveonethingincommon,betterspiritualhealth.Sincepatients
undergoingarttherapywereabletosuccessfullyreducetheirstress,anxiety,depression,
tiredness,andimprovetheiroutcomeoflife,theywereabletoimprovetheirspiritualhealthas
wellastheylearnacceptanceanddeepentheirbeliefsinexpressionduringthecreativeprocess
(Ettun,Rachel,Michael,Schultz,andGilBarSelaHamerNanis).
Inorderforaneventtobesuccessful,theviewersneedtobeabletolearnsomethingthat
theycantakebackandhaveasanexperience(HowtoOrganizeanEvent).Inastudyby
DeborahSmall,aWhartonUniversityofPennsylvaniamarketingprofessor,andtwoofher
colleagues,itwasfoundthatappealingtotheheartismoreconvincingthanappealingtothehead
whentryingtoraisemoneyforcharitablecauses.Peoplearemorelikelytodonatemoneywhen
youappealtotheiremotionsandfeelingsratherthantheirlogic(ToIncreaseCharitable
Donations,AppealtotheHeartNottheHead).Thenumberoneprobleminhostinganeventis
notenoughpeopleshowinguptotheeventbutpeopleusuallylearnaboutnewsfromwordof
mouthandfliers(HowtoOrganizeanEvent).Apamphletshouldalsobemadeforanartshow
(OfficeoftheArts).Havingaguestbookthatpeoplecanwriteinmaybeagoodideaforkeeping
trackofwhocomestotheartshow.(Gallery234TipsforanAmazingArtShow:Suggested

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GalleryStandards).Theorganizeroftheartshowshouldalsoconsiderhavingfoodand
refreshmentsduringtheshow(OfficeoftheArts).
Whencreatingapieceofartwork,itisnecessarytoknowwhatpsychologicalresponse
eachcolorusedgives(CSUStanislaus|OITWebServicesSolis).Everycolorhasadifferent
psychologicalmeaning.Blacksymbolizesdeath,mystery,fearandunhappinessandshouldnot
beusedunlesscombinedwithavibrantcolorbrowncanbewarmingbutwhenitiscombined
withotherbrighterandwarmcolorssuchasorangeyellowandgoldotherwiseitcanbe
depressinggreyislikebrownandblackasitcanbedepressingunlessitiscombinedwitha
brighterliveliercolorandwhiteisacheerfulcolorthatreflectssunlightandisbestusedwith
warmcolorssuchasred,yellow,ororange(CSUStanislaus|OITWebServices).Orangeis
anotherstimulatinghighenergycolor(Solis).Blue,green,yellow,andredarecalming,sedative,
cheerful,andpassionatecolors.Purpleissedativeandsoothing.Itisaspiritualcolorand
symbolizesmystery,royalty,andtransformation(CSUStanislaus|OITWebServices).
Ithasbeenseenthathavingeventsatschoolisfreebutthatthemostimportantthingto
budgetistime.Inordertostayontrackforanevent,atimeanddateshouldbesetinadvance
andtheplaceinwhichtheeventistakingplaceshouldbesecured(HowtoOrganizeanEvent).
Theplacementoftheartinanartshowneedstobevisuallyappealingwhichcanbeachieved
throughfirstsettingtheartworkontheflooraroundthewallswherethereartwillbehungsothat
thepersonhanginguptheartworkwillgetbetterfeelforwhatthepieceswilllooklikewhen
theyarehunginordertomoreeasilymakechanges.Thedistancebetweenartworkinagallery
shouldbeplacedinawaythatgivestheviewer'seyeaplacetorest,createsvisualinterest,and
encouragestheviewertolookattheartpieceslongerandtheartworkshouldbelabeledina

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plainandreadablefont(Gallery234TipsforanAmazingArtShow:SuggestedGallery
Standards).
ApplyingtheResearchtomyArtShow
SinceitissoimportanttomethatIinformmyviewersontheimportanceofspiritual
health,thebenefitsarttherapyhasonmanagingcancersymptoms,andpancreaticcancer
awarenessandpersuadethemtobuyartworkatmyartshow,Ineedtobeabletoapplywhatmy
researchtellsmewhichIwillnowbeabletodo.NowthatIknowallabouttheimportanceof
spiritualhealth,howitrelatestoarttherapy,andhowarttherapyisbeneficialformanagingthe
symptomsofcancerpatients,Iwillbeabletogiveavaluablepresentationthatpeoplewillbe
abletotakeknowledgefrom.Thispresentationwillhelpencouragepeopletobuymyartwork
whentheyknowthattheartshowisforanimportantcause.
Sincepeoplearemorelikelyto
donatemoneywhenyouappealtotheiremotionsandfeelingsratherthantheirlogic,inorderto
convincepeopletobuyartwork,inthesmallpresentationIhaveinwhichIraiseawarenessto
pancreaticcancerandarttherapyforsymptommanagementwithcancerpatients,Iwillmake
suretodiscusshowmynanadiedfrompancreaticcancerandhowIwishshecouldhavehada
creativeoutlettohelpexpressherselfandhowIwishIhadknownthatarttherapycouldbean
option.Byappealingtoemotion,IammakingitmorepersonalandifIamabletoshowhow
muchpassionIhaveinwantingtoinformpeopleoftheseissuesandsolutions,morepeoplemay
bewillingtobuytheartworkinordertosupportmycause.
Iwillbeabletogetenoughpeopleto
myartshowsinceIwillbeadvertisingmyshowandmakingfliers.Iwillhavebothmyparents
andfamilymembersreachouttotheirconnectionstohaveabiggerviewerbaseatmyartshow.I
willalsobeabletoentertainmyguestswithfoodandrefreshmentsandIwillbeabletoget

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feedbackfrommyshowbyhavingaguestbookthatpeoplecanwritein.
Sincetheartworkthatis
notsoldwillbegoingtoahospital,
Iwillnowbeabletohaveartworkatmyartshowthatis
appropriatetobedonatedtoahospitalsinceIhavetheknowledgethatbrightcolorsarebetter
whiledarkcolorscanbedepressing.Theartworkshouldincorporateatleastthecolorpurpleas
purpleisthethemeofmyartshowandtheartshouldbeschoolappropriateandnotviolentbut
positiveandpeaceful.Theartistsshouldavoidusingthecolorsblack,grey,orbrownby
themselvesbutareencouragedtouseallothercolors.

IwillmakesurethatIamstayingontrack
formyartshowbysettingatime,date,andplaceinadvance.Iwillbeabletohaveavisually
appealingartshownowthatIknowtoarrangetheartonthegroundthewayIwantittoappear
onthewallsbeforeIputthepiecesonthewalls.Iwillmakesuretolabeltheartworkintheart
showinaplainandreadablefont.Iwillmakeapamphletaswellwithdescriptionsofthe
individualartpiecesandabriefsummaryofthemotivationbehindtheartshow.

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