PYROCLASTIC FLOW

DETAILS: And so it is during another Iraq War anniversary. 23 of these dreadful markers of time. What stands out, however, are the current conflicts raging. It is awful to lose friends who served. What also challenges our military family, is the gutting loss of a dear friend to suicide. In truth, our entire nation suffers from devastating conflicts. What positive impacts can come from so much turmoil? For the artist: transformation. For me, it is the process of learning and creating as many new artforms as possible and then teaching these methods through incremental vlogs. This idea sparked after a mental health professional stated "You like to write, what if you explain your feelings through art?" In the 22 years since, I've read lots of literature about trauma and those lessons in return help to kintsugi a broken psyche. My top pick: War and the Soul by Edward Tick, PhD. What else helps me? Reading, writing, and creating mythological tales alongside scary stories to create antiwar lore.  As always, this blog and website work to generate a massive antiwar cabinet of curiosities or repository of visual poetry fighting against truculent actions. Myths serve as a vital therapeutic tool for helping fight trauma by providing a symbolic framework to process overwhelming experiences that are often too difficult to put into literal words. The art above symbolizes this fragmented message for any veterans or service members working through a similar crisis. There is a much easier number to dial nowadays: 988. If art alone (or your methods to cope aren't working) and you need assistance, then dial the number, walk into a VA clinic, or use the online chat system. There are also medications, OTC herbs like copaiba or ashwagandha, and other forms of exercise and wellness activities. There is a path, but it sometimes takes a moment-to-moment approach. Reach out to the VA or a faith-based healer if these anniversary dates (and current events) become too triggering. Special thanks to Ice Floe Press for publishing this art which was created by collaging VA postcards into a type of therapeutic piece of resistance. Click this LINK
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ICEFLOE PRESS