HOPE RESEARCH
Note: This is an abbreviated version of my research. If you would like to read the full 33-page research paper, please contact me.
As a partial requirement for my master's degree, I conducted a qualitative study using art-based methods of inquiry to explore the therapeutic potential of hope. Because hope is a concept that is better implied than understood, I utilized a form of art-based inquiry as a process to produce tangible data for this abstract subject matter. Sullivan (2005) defined art-based inquiry as "the creation of knowledge using visual means within a research perspective." Kapitan (2010) expanded on that definition, stating that art-based inquiry is "founded on the principle that art practice is a form of thinking, problem solving, and investigation of direct perceptual evidence" (p. 162).
For six weeks I met with cancer patients in both inpatient and outpatient medical center settings to collect stories of hope. Patients were purposefully selected by referral from other medical health professionals and by my own personal inquiry and invitation to patients located on the inpatient oncology unit or the outpatient infusion clinic. I engaged patients with a variety of art materials, directives, and dialogue to meet the specific needs of each individual. While engaging in creative art making and conversation, I asked clients about their perception of hope during the course of their treatment cycles and in what ways they felt hope played a role in their lives. Each week I explored their verbal responses in the form of my own personal creative journaling, self-reflection, and personal art making by utilizing a variety of artistic media. This method allowed me to perceive each story of hope in a new way. This research process resulted in a total of seven stories and seven artistic response pieces. Bruce Moon describes a “response piece” as any artwork created by the art therapist in response to artistic imagery made by the patient as a form of therapeutic intervention (Moon, 1999, p. 78).
*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy.
As a partial requirement for my master's degree, I conducted a qualitative study using art-based methods of inquiry to explore the therapeutic potential of hope. Because hope is a concept that is better implied than understood, I utilized a form of art-based inquiry as a process to produce tangible data for this abstract subject matter. Sullivan (2005) defined art-based inquiry as "the creation of knowledge using visual means within a research perspective." Kapitan (2010) expanded on that definition, stating that art-based inquiry is "founded on the principle that art practice is a form of thinking, problem solving, and investigation of direct perceptual evidence" (p. 162).
For six weeks I met with cancer patients in both inpatient and outpatient medical center settings to collect stories of hope. Patients were purposefully selected by referral from other medical health professionals and by my own personal inquiry and invitation to patients located on the inpatient oncology unit or the outpatient infusion clinic. I engaged patients with a variety of art materials, directives, and dialogue to meet the specific needs of each individual. While engaging in creative art making and conversation, I asked clients about their perception of hope during the course of their treatment cycles and in what ways they felt hope played a role in their lives. Each week I explored their verbal responses in the form of my own personal creative journaling, self-reflection, and personal art making by utilizing a variety of artistic media. This method allowed me to perceive each story of hope in a new way. This research process resulted in a total of seven stories and seven artistic response pieces. Bruce Moon describes a “response piece” as any artwork created by the art therapist in response to artistic imagery made by the patient as a form of therapeutic intervention (Moon, 1999, p. 78).
*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy.
#1 "Off in the Distance"
newspaper, ink pen, gold leaf, 5"x8"
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Amireh, 62, Breast cancer (2nd occurrence), Lymphoma
Amireh is Persian and grew up in Baghdad.
She said that life was good until she was 13.
When she was 13 she saw four men hanging in the street.
Life was not good after that.
There was so much killing.
Thousands of people died.
They killed her brother.
She hated Saddam Hussein.
She could see the evil in his eyes.
She moved to the United States when he was 27.
I told her that I am 27.
Her family moved to the United States too.
But then her father got cancer and he died.
She had a boyfriend, but then she got cancer and he met someone else.
She lost her job, but will start looking again after she finishes her 6th cycle of chemotherapy.
She is now on her 4th.
I asked her what she thought of hope.
It is something far off in the distance.
You can see it, but you can’t touch it.
It gets closer, but then you find it out of your grasp.
She looked away from me, out into space.
She pointed at it and then pulled her hand down.
She’s not going to lay around feeling sorry for herself.
We made 3 hope stones that said, “mom”, “living”, and “win!”
She gave me her favorite recipe for hummus.
She took 10 clear stones to create hope stones for others.
I shook her hand before I left.
newspaper, ink pen, gold leaf, 5"x8"
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Amireh, 62, Breast cancer (2nd occurrence), Lymphoma
Amireh is Persian and grew up in Baghdad.
She said that life was good until she was 13.
When she was 13 she saw four men hanging in the street.
Life was not good after that.
There was so much killing.
Thousands of people died.
They killed her brother.
She hated Saddam Hussein.
She could see the evil in his eyes.
She moved to the United States when he was 27.
I told her that I am 27.
Her family moved to the United States too.
But then her father got cancer and he died.
She had a boyfriend, but then she got cancer and he met someone else.
She lost her job, but will start looking again after she finishes her 6th cycle of chemotherapy.
She is now on her 4th.
I asked her what she thought of hope.
It is something far off in the distance.
You can see it, but you can’t touch it.
It gets closer, but then you find it out of your grasp.
She looked away from me, out into space.
She pointed at it and then pulled her hand down.
She’s not going to lay around feeling sorry for herself.
We made 3 hope stones that said, “mom”, “living”, and “win!”
She gave me her favorite recipe for hummus.
She took 10 clear stones to create hope stones for others.
I shook her hand before I left.
#2 "Diamonds"
newspaper, ballpoint pen, sharpie, gold leaf, 5"x8"
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Caroline, 70, Thyroid cancer, lymphoma
Caroline said that an art therapy intern tried to get her to make art before.
I asked her if they succeeded.
She said no and smiled.
But she said I could chat with her.
She and her husband are snowbirds.
They leave for Arizona every year after Thanksgiving and return to Milwaukee in April.
They have someone watch their house in Arizona while they are away.
Their son takes care of their Wisconsin home during the winter.
Caroline says that hope is faith.
They are Catholic and believe in prayer.
“Prayer gets you through it,” she says.
When they looked at the x-rays of her cancer she said it looks diamonds covering her chest.
Hope and faith are what keep you going.
newspaper, ballpoint pen, sharpie, gold leaf, 5"x8"
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Caroline, 70, Thyroid cancer, lymphoma
Caroline said that an art therapy intern tried to get her to make art before.
I asked her if they succeeded.
She said no and smiled.
But she said I could chat with her.
She and her husband are snowbirds.
They leave for Arizona every year after Thanksgiving and return to Milwaukee in April.
They have someone watch their house in Arizona while they are away.
Their son takes care of their Wisconsin home during the winter.
Caroline says that hope is faith.
They are Catholic and believe in prayer.
“Prayer gets you through it,” she says.
When they looked at the x-rays of her cancer she said it looks diamonds covering her chest.
Hope and faith are what keep you going.
#3 "Do Not Resuscitate"
acrylic, newspaper, burnt paper, ballpoint pen, ink, 5"x8"
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Harvey, 72, lung cancer, bladder cancer
Harvey and I talked about baseball.
He has recommendations for a new Brewers manager.
Harvey was a social studies teacher.
He explained the different routes he used to take from South Milwaukee to Cedarburg.
The pharmacy technician came to ask questions about Harvey’s medications and symptoms.
Shrugging his shoulders, he looked to his wife.
She began to list medications, dosages, and symptoms.
The pharmacy technician reminded him to continue taking his prescribed vitamins.
Harvey’s wife thanked the technician for reminding him because if she had reminded him he wouldn’t have listened.
When I asked Harvey what he thought about hope he rolled his shirt sleeve down, held out his arm, and asked me to read his wristband.
DO NOT RESUSITATE, it read.
He said he wasn’t really sure why he decided to fill out the paperwork and get the wristband in the first place.
He said he was scheduled for surgery to put a stint in for 2 weeks.
He said he was going to have the nurse cut it off, or he would cut it off himself.
“I’ve got some things to do yet,” he said.
acrylic, newspaper, burnt paper, ballpoint pen, ink, 5"x8"
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Harvey, 72, lung cancer, bladder cancer
Harvey and I talked about baseball.
He has recommendations for a new Brewers manager.
Harvey was a social studies teacher.
He explained the different routes he used to take from South Milwaukee to Cedarburg.
The pharmacy technician came to ask questions about Harvey’s medications and symptoms.
Shrugging his shoulders, he looked to his wife.
She began to list medications, dosages, and symptoms.
The pharmacy technician reminded him to continue taking his prescribed vitamins.
Harvey’s wife thanked the technician for reminding him because if she had reminded him he wouldn’t have listened.
When I asked Harvey what he thought about hope he rolled his shirt sleeve down, held out his arm, and asked me to read his wristband.
DO NOT RESUSITATE, it read.
He said he wasn’t really sure why he decided to fill out the paperwork and get the wristband in the first place.
He said he was scheduled for surgery to put a stint in for 2 weeks.
He said he was going to have the nurse cut it off, or he would cut it off himself.
“I’ve got some things to do yet,” he said.
#4 "A Rare Bird"
acrylic, newspaper, ink pen, 5"x8"
October 7, 2014
Elaine, 66, Stage IV lymphoma, lung cancer
Elaine was sitting in the infusion clinic with her daughter.
She told me how much she used to love living in Arizona.
After her husband became ill and she was diagnosed with cancer they decided to move closer to their children.
Her son lives in Oregon, one daughter lives in Texas, and the other daughter lives in Wisconsin.
Elaine said that she was leaving for Oregon in several weeks to see her grandson get married.
She was concerned because they weren’t getting married in a church.
We talked about how it can be difficult when others’ views and opinions differ from our own.
I asked Elaine about hope.
She said that hope and prayer are everything.
Her daughter interjected and said they would not have gotten through the last 2 years of treatment without hope.
She said that her mother has responded very well to chemotherapy treatment and they’re grateful.
Elaine said that her husband gave her a special nickname because of her endurance and resilience.
He calls her “a rare bird.”
acrylic, newspaper, ink pen, 5"x8"
October 7, 2014
Elaine, 66, Stage IV lymphoma, lung cancer
Elaine was sitting in the infusion clinic with her daughter.
She told me how much she used to love living in Arizona.
After her husband became ill and she was diagnosed with cancer they decided to move closer to their children.
Her son lives in Oregon, one daughter lives in Texas, and the other daughter lives in Wisconsin.
Elaine said that she was leaving for Oregon in several weeks to see her grandson get married.
She was concerned because they weren’t getting married in a church.
We talked about how it can be difficult when others’ views and opinions differ from our own.
I asked Elaine about hope.
She said that hope and prayer are everything.
Her daughter interjected and said they would not have gotten through the last 2 years of treatment without hope.
She said that her mother has responded very well to chemotherapy treatment and they’re grateful.
Elaine said that her husband gave her a special nickname because of her endurance and resilience.
He calls her “a rare bird.”
#5 "Obligation"
newspaper, ballpoint pen, 5"x8"
This conversation occurred frequently throughout my six week research process:
What do you think about hope?
DO you think about hope?
Is it helpful?
I don’t have a choice.
newspaper, ballpoint pen, 5"x8"
This conversation occurred frequently throughout my six week research process:
What do you think about hope?
DO you think about hope?
Is it helpful?
I don’t have a choice.
#6 "Connection"
ink, ink pen 5"x8"
October 14, 2014
Leonard, 82, lymphoma and kidney disease, in remission
We talked for over an hour.
Leonard and his wife told me about the time they spent in Eastern Europe after the wall fell.
His wife is a retired nurse.
She used to travel overseas to organize nursing programs for the state.
They both used to travel a lot.
Leonard started listing the countries they’ve visited.
They spent time in Eritrea.
“I’ll bet you’ve never heard of Eritrea. Not many people have. It’s right by Ethiopia,” he said.
He talked about the country’s history, the people, and their own experiences there.
His wife talked about the students they were able to give scholarships to study nursing in the United States.
One nurse still lives down in Texas.
I asked them about hope.
Leonard began to talk about his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren.
He said he has a lot to live for.
He’s very appreciative for the doctors who treated him.
Even though his family lives all over the United States they’re very connected and involved in each others’ lives.
I told them that I want to travel as much as they have.
They told me that I can.
ink, ink pen 5"x8"
October 14, 2014
Leonard, 82, lymphoma and kidney disease, in remission
We talked for over an hour.
Leonard and his wife told me about the time they spent in Eastern Europe after the wall fell.
His wife is a retired nurse.
She used to travel overseas to organize nursing programs for the state.
They both used to travel a lot.
Leonard started listing the countries they’ve visited.
They spent time in Eritrea.
“I’ll bet you’ve never heard of Eritrea. Not many people have. It’s right by Ethiopia,” he said.
He talked about the country’s history, the people, and their own experiences there.
His wife talked about the students they were able to give scholarships to study nursing in the United States.
One nurse still lives down in Texas.
I asked them about hope.
Leonard began to talk about his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren.
He said he has a lot to live for.
He’s very appreciative for the doctors who treated him.
Even though his family lives all over the United States they’re very connected and involved in each others’ lives.
I told them that I want to travel as much as they have.
They told me that I can.
#7 "Disintegration"
acrylic, paper, adhesive, sharpie, 5"x8"
October 30, 2014
Joe, 55, lung cancer
Joe is an inventor and an “ideas man”.
He said that hope is important.
It’s internal and external.
It keeps you moving forward and it keeps you from disintegrating.
acrylic, paper, adhesive, sharpie, 5"x8"
October 30, 2014
Joe, 55, lung cancer
Joe is an inventor and an “ideas man”.
He said that hope is important.
It’s internal and external.
It keeps you moving forward and it keeps you from disintegrating.
Results & Art Exhibition
During my secondary process of research I analyzed my stories and artwork. To measure and collect my data, I again, engaged in artistic inquiry. I did this by assessing each of my art pieces for recurring artistic and conceptual themes. I considered how these themes referenced hope and how they affected the patients whom I encountered. I also utilized triangulation through creative journaling, self-reflection, and consultation with other graduate students to gain alternative perspectives of my work. Maxwell (2013) defines triangulation as “collecting information from a diverse range of individuals and settings, using a variety of methods [which] reduces the risk of chance associations and of systematic biases due to a specific method” (p. 128).
During my final process of research I applied the same recurring artistic and conceptual themes that I encountered in my primary and secondary research processes to a large-scale, visual art exhibition piece. This final visual art piece was created to finalize my own hope-related definitions and imagery. Themes found in the art revealed that hope is dynamic in its usage, involves meaningful connection to the surrounding world, and inspires risk-taking.
During my final process of research I applied the same recurring artistic and conceptual themes that I encountered in my primary and secondary research processes to a large-scale, visual art exhibition piece. This final visual art piece was created to finalize my own hope-related definitions and imagery. Themes found in the art revealed that hope is dynamic in its usage, involves meaningful connection to the surrounding world, and inspires risk-taking.
Final research process:
"Potential"
mixed media on wood canvas
2015, 4' x 5' 9" x 2" (individual canvases 4' x 5" x 2")
References
Kapitan, L. (2010). Introduction to art therapy research. New York, NY: Routledge.
Maxwell, J. A. (2013). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach. (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Moon, B. (1999). The tears that make me paint: The role of responsive art making in adolescent art making in adolescent art therapy. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 16(2), 78-82. doi:10.1080/07421656199910129671
Sullivan, G. (2005). Art practice as research: Inquiry in the visual arts. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
"Potential"
mixed media on wood canvas
2015, 4' x 5' 9" x 2" (individual canvases 4' x 5" x 2")
References
Kapitan, L. (2010). Introduction to art therapy research. New York, NY: Routledge.
Maxwell, J. A. (2013). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach. (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Moon, B. (1999). The tears that make me paint: The role of responsive art making in adolescent art making in adolescent art therapy. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 16(2), 78-82. doi:10.1080/07421656199910129671
Sullivan, G. (2005). Art practice as research: Inquiry in the visual arts. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
