Art Therapy in Response to Natural Disasters, Mass Violence, and Crises

Joseph Scarce, PhD ATR-BC, is an Assistant Professor of Art Therapy at the University of Tampa. He was the president of the Florida Art Therapy Association and presented on disaster relief work at the American Art Therapy National conference 2017-2019. He provided leadership in an art therapy response to the Pulse Night Club Tragedy, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria and the Parkland Shooting.

• AcknowledgementsForeword by Wayne RamirezIntroduction: Joseph Scarce Part I Mental Health, Trauma, Ethics, and Self Care in Art Therapy Disaster Response Chapter 1 Art as Therapy: Building Resistance in Long Term Disaster Recovery Amanda Sanders, Maria Rollins, & Jill Charney Chapter 2 Humanity and Humility, Ethics, Pedagogy, and Art Therapy Contributions in Response to Natural Disaster Ronald P.M.H. Lay Chapter 3 Art Therapists Respond to COVID-19, Viewing Art Therapy in a New Virtual World, Self-Care in a Pandemic Joseph Scarce, Elia Khalaf, Alicia Ballestas, Devora Weinapple, Jess Linton & Cynthia Wilson Part II Art Therapy for Hope and Recovery from Loss of Home and CommunityChapter 4 Arts for Haiti: Collaboration, Training, and Service-Learning Programming in Post-Earthquake HaitiGeri Hurlbut & Gaelynn P. Wolf BordonaroChapter 5 The Dichotomy of Nature: Natural Disaster in Chile - an Art Therapy Response Daniela Gloger & Eduardo Torres Chapter 6 The Camp Fire of 2018: Art Therapist Stories of Response, California Burning: The Northern California Art Therapy Association's Community Service Response in Paradise, After the Most Destructive and Deadly Fire in California HistoryKatrina Bobo, Cynthia Wilson, Robin Valicenti, & Devora WeinappleChapter 7 Art Therapy First Aid: Growing Capacity with Arts Therapists in Communities Affected by Australian BushfiresCarla van LaarChapter 8 Art Therapy After Hurricane Maria Maricel Ocasio-Figueroa & Anaïs Lugo-AxtmannChapter 9 Hurricane Michael and Stars of HOPE Stephanie WrayChapter 10 Art Therapy Interventions with Syrian Refugee Youth & Families Mercedes Ballbé ter Maat, Soraya Obeid, Natacha Pirotte, & Laurence de Groote VandenborrePart III Art Therapy for Community Healing in Response to Mass Violence: Hate Crimes & Terrorist Attacks. Chapter 11 Mending HeArts in the Holy City: Supporting Community Through Art After The Mother Emanuel Church ShootingDianne Vincent, Barbara Naderi, & Leigh Ann Lichty Chapter 12 Art Therapy After the Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting Raquel Farrell-Kirk Chapter 13 Art From the Heart: Community Support After the Pulse Night Club ShootingJoseph Scarce Part IV Art Therapy Collaboration with Expressive Arts Therapy Approaches in Disaster ResponseChapter 14 Not Just Another Arts Camp Using the Creative Art Therapies After a School ShootingAlicia Ballestas, Jessica Asch, Lisa Tricomi & Bree Gordon, Chapter 15 Voces Arts and Healing: Working on the U.S.-Mexico Border with Asylum SeekersKelvin A. Ramirez, Mitchell Kossak, & Joseph MagearyChapter 16 Art Therapy as a Cradle in Crisis Situations Healing from Typhoon Haiyan Maria Regina A. Alfonso & Maria Johanna Pia G. Ortiz-Luis

As I read Dr. Scarce's book, I was reminded of Vedran Smailovic, who became famous by playing his cello in the streets of Sarajevo during the siege to protest violence and murder. By playing during bombings and funerals he gave beauty and hope to people. Similarly, this book describes ways art therapists have used the arts in responding to natural and man-made disasters. As Scarce wrote, "It is not just creative art intervention or creative modality that we bring to a disaster site. We often bring hope to those suffering." This book reminds us of how essential art therapists are in times of crisis.