From a very early age, Providence Associate Liza Hyatt of Indianapolis knew that art was very important to her.“I knew that I loved art and that I found solace in it and that I needed to create to feel whole. I had childhood rheumatoid arthritis from the age of 3 to around 11 or 12. The first three letters of arthritis are a-r-t and because I felt unable to be an athlete due to the illness, I retreated to my imagination and trusted that ‘art’ was a gift hidden in having arthritis. I see now that I became an art therapist at an early age to help myself find healing during and after the arthritis,” said Liza, pictured above in the center of the first row.
Witnessing the difference that art made in her life, Liza wanted to share that experience with others. Today, she ministers at the Charis Center, the IU Simon Cancer Center and her own private practice. She also teaches the graduate course, Art Therapy and Spiritual Development, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
“Everyone is creative. Life involves struggle and conflict and creativity is how human beings respond to such tension. Often, people identify themselves as ‘not having an artistic bone’ because they have been told this by others or taught to distrust creativity from an early age. Art is misunderstood as something only talented professionals do. But if someone who identifies herself as not artistic has the chance to explore, engage with colors, sound, movement, metaphor, she will find that she has abundant creativity and that there is amazing unexplored potential within herself to discover. Often I hear people say, ‘Oh, I’m not artistic. I can’t even draw a straight line!’ Well, growth never asks us to draw in straight lines. And if you can make loops, curves, scribbles, spirals, doodles, then art therapy can help you grow," Liza continued.
Becoming a Providence Associate has renewed Liza’s soul. “I have made new friends and have come upon unexpected opportunities. I am experiencing the generosity of Providence more,” concluded Liza.
