Sonja Parsonage
Project title: The experience of using found objects to access and process emotions associated with midlife transition and enrich therapeutic art making
Sonja followed many and diverse callings before embarking on the Masters of Mental Health (MMH) Art Therapy. Generally, learning new things and taking on new roles has meant leaving something of herself behind. The MMH degree, however, has enabled and supported her to be the whole person she is. Nevertheless, different parts have sometimes felt incompatible.
Sonja left work as a researcher and university lecturer to raise a family. Her prior study includes a Doctorate in Environmental Science, a Bachelor of Fine Art, and studies toward yoga therapist registration. Sonja re-entered the workforce as a yoga teacher with a focus on trauma informed yoga for wellbeing. The experience of leading a weekly yoga class in the mental health unit at a large teaching hospital led to a desire to develop skills in providing mental health support. Art Therapy seemed the best fit for her perspective.
Sonja found the prospect of conducting a research project exciting. Her well-developed positivist point of view, however, sometimes fought against a heuristic methodology and gave rise to a sense of internal instability: like mixing oil and water. The two-dimensional works included in this exhibition were created in response to this feeling; Sonja has coloured her intuitive charcoal sketches with a mix of oil paint, oil pastels and watercolour to recreate the experience of seeing the world through conflicting paradigms. The heuristic study privileged suppressed emotions, subjective dimensions, beauty, and awe associated with going out into the world, collecting data, analysing and discussing results. The experience has been liberating and transformative.
It has been an achievement to bring an initially vague idea to thesis submission and a rollercoaster of emotions. Sharing the journey with a supportive group of peers and encouraging supervisors was essential sustenance. The collection of emotive hearts were stitched in quiet times between “storms”.
Finally, Sonja has enjoyed the opportunity to do field work outdoors again and reconnect with nature. She would like to work as an art therapist with women and families and build a home studio on her property in the mountains.
Charcoal, oil paint, water colour on water colour paper
29.7 cm x 42 cm
Integrating all the parts of myself feels difficult initially. However, in this first of the series, I’m starting to try: Echoing the movement of water with impasto paint.
Charcoal, oil paint, water colour on water colour paper
29.7 cm x 42 cm
Integrating all the parts of myself is difficult. In this image, I’ve decided to boldly celebrate the contrast. Contrasting colours are used with contrary media (oil and water). I am remembering patches of sunlight penetrating the canopy of the rainforest.
Charcoal, oil pastels, water colour on water colour paper
29.7 cm x 42 cm
As the subject of my own research, I was always asking “what are you feeling and where do you feel it?” The image shows each part of the mystery illuminated with the touch of a brush.
Charcoal, oil pastels, water colour on water colour paper
29.7 cm x 42 cm
Wholeness has been acceptance: Dissolving, merging, breaking free of meaningless categories and compartmentalisation. There is a quiet relief in being here.
Charcoal, oil pastels, water colour on water colour paper
29.7 cm x 42 cm
The image has everything I wish for in my final submission for the Master’s program: Balance, clarity, flow, and an enticement towards another journey. Here, these ideas are expressed in media properties, colour, tone, composition, and mark making.
Charcoal, oil paint, oil pastels, water colour on water colour paper
29.7 cm x 42 cm
As researcher and participant, I was not only observing and measuring but allowing myself to become emotional and inviting imagination and fantasy: Inventing stories and metaphors.
Hard science Soft science
Charcoal, oil pastels, water colour on water colour paper
29.7 cm x 42 cm
My past and present coming together. Studying outside intensely but understanding inside gently. The buttery oil pastels exploring and soothing.
Touchy Feely
Linen offcuts, cotton embroidery thread, silk embroidery thread, laceweight silk yarn, buttons, felt, beads, fleece remnant
40 cm x 40 cm x 5 cm
Younger me left work, made house, and went crafty. Now, when I might have found myself knitting booties for grandchildren, I see myself contributing to the world in a way I couldn’t have imagined. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster.