Answer in Images: Art and Mental Health Interview with Christine Castigliano
"Mental Health means inviting my heart and soul to lead, while nurturing a compassionate relationship with fear-based inner parts as they need attention. I lovingly call them my Monkeys."
I have been absolutely loving the beautiful responses that people are offering up to my call for visual interviews. I tend to focus so much on words myself, but there are so many different ways that we communicate, especially about such deeply personal topics as art and mental health. Seeing the images that people respond with to these questions really touches my heart, gives me an experience that differs from reading in words, allows me to integrate these concepts in a new way. It’s so special.
Want to be featured? You can answer a visual interview here or answer one in words here.
I’m very excited to share the newest of these with you: my interview with Christine Castigliano of Heart, Soul & Monkeys. Why Monkeys you ask? Visit the “about page” to learn more but the beautiful, succinct answer is:
“If you’re a maker who’s called to make something that matters and share it with others, it’s vulnerable. Risky. That’s when your Monkeys of fear show up. Maybe it’s anxiety roiling in your gut, a wicked bout of self-consciousness, or a cloud of dullness.”
And Christine also shares there on that page:
When my Monkeys show up now, it’s a signal to connect with my heart. To listen, love, and learn. I’ll share these joyful, game-changing practices with you each week.
Despite the Monkeys, I’m a multi-passionate maker. My writing, illustration, design, songs, and performances have appeared in Time Magazine, feature films, TV, newspapers, YA novels, on stages and festivals on the West Coast, and in bathrooms across the USA (“Holy Sh*t! 52 Self-care Tools for People who Poo” via Kickstarter).
So do check out what she’s doing there. It’s helpful, creative, intuitive, intelligent, playful, wonderful stuff. Now on to the interview …
What does the term mental health mean to you?
What does your own history of mental health look like?
What does creativity mean to you?
How have mental health symptoms impacted your creative process?
How have mental health symptoms impacted the content of your creativity?
In what ways have mental health symptoms impacted your creative medium?
How have mental health symptoms impacted your productivity as an artist?
How have mental health symptoms impacted your self-perception / identity as an artist … and/or your perception by others?
What does the relationship between art and work look like for you?
How is art therapeutic/cathartic/healing for you?
How has art hindered/harm your mental health? Or been complicated vs. all positive?
In summary, for you, what is the relationship between art and mental health?
After completing the earlier questions, what is one more image that you feel compelled to share in response to all of this?
Connect with Christine Castigliano on her website or @HeartsQuest on the socials.
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Just to reiterate: the visual answer format is really cool here!
This is absolutely amazing!