The following article appeared in the Feb. 14, 2005 edition of the Fostoria Review Times.

At left, Congressman Paul Gillmor dons a UPS uniform today during a visit to First Step Family Violence Intervention Center. UPS donated $500 towards the center’s art therapy program for children and adults. Gillmor & Suzanne Brawley of UPS, Fremont, look over artwork created in the program. (Photo by Bridget Campbell)

Editor's Note: The name of domestic violence client has been changed.

Last year, painting a picture was the furthest thing from "Greta's" mind. In the depths of an abusive relationship and dealing with mental illness, things seemed too dark to think of anything past the next few days. Eventually she pulled herself out of that relationship and came into shelter residence at First Step Family Violence Intervention Center. Working on getting her own apartment and a new job, Greta spends several hours a week working on art projects with Barbara Kukla, an art therapist at First Step Family Violence Intervention Center. Kukla joined the staff of First Step as a professional volunteer in October to provide art therapy for women and children who have been victims of domestic violence. A donation from UPS will fund the necessary supplies for her program at First Step.

Kukla leads between one and three sessions each week at First Step for both groups and individuals in residence there. Sessions focus on the use of artistic media to express underlying emotions."Art therapy is primarily nonverbal," Kukla explained. "It's almost always more important to concentrate on what we're doing. The less talking an art therapist can do, the better it is." Participants are given paints, chalks, pastels and other tools to create a piece of art during their hour-long sessions. Sometimes, Kukla has a specific project in mind, but it is often up to the client to decide what to do."With whatever client or patient I work with, I follow the lead of that person," Kukla explained. "Sometimes just talking with them might tell them where they're at or it might come out while working." The resulting work of art usually contains clues to the emotional state of the artist rendering it. Choice of color, where lines are placed and how much of the space is used can all be clues to the emotional state of the person creating it."We begin to dialogue the art," explained Kukla. "Everything a person does has a meaning. The person may not understand, the art therapist may not, but it always has meaning." Kukla does not believe that every image or choice has a fixed meaning, though."It's not a code that you just learn to translate," she said. "For example, some think red means warm, but it can also mean blood or violence. It depends what that means to the individual person. People are a so complex -- what they make out of their art is so complex and different from what someone else would."

Kukla also emphasized that participants don't need to have artistic talent or know any techniques."Art therapy is from the heart," stated Kukla. "The process, almost more than the product, is what's important, but the doing of something is good in itself." In the past five months, Kukla has worked with about 25 shelter residents, including Greta."Barb helped me overcome some obstacles I was facing in my life," said Greta."On one of my projects, she saw that I covered the entire paper and said that I was really good at covering up." Thinking Kukla meant her artwork, Greta thanked her. Kukla, however, had a deeper meaning."(She) explained that I was covering up my feelings and emotions, wearing a mask and if we spend life too long in that facade it becomes reality," Greta explained. "And just telling me this helped me stop covering my feelings." According to First Step staff, Kukla's presence has been a boon for their clients."Our clients look forward to these sessions every week," noted Michael Cheatham, the agency's licensed social worker. "She gets them to express their feelings, fears, likes, dislikes through this artistic expression and it's very good for them."

Though most of Kukla's work has been in the mental health field, she also believes that art therapy can be applied to people with physical problems, like heart conditions and cancer. She also volunteers her services at Victory House, working with cancer patients."Art can help get out what is inside," Kukla said. "(It) helps the person organize what needs to be said, deal with their feelings and get feelings and thoughts out and that improves someone's overall health." Greta believes that her work with Kukla has helped her recovery."It's very positive and very motivating," she remarked. "She helps you realize many things that you didn't know about yourself." For more information on the art therapy program or domestic violence prevention, contact First Step at (419) 435-7300.