Repairing things to help with grieving: An art therapist’s journey through grief and the use of repair to help mend the self

About the May Forum

Can the journey of a grieving person be helped by the creativity and physicality of the visible repair of objects that have emotional significance?  

Presented by Vicky Cutler

This talk will follow a personal journey of art therapist Vicky Cutler in her quest to use the creativity of visibly repairing objects that had close personal connection to her partner. Vicky used the repair, care, amendment and preservation of her deceased partner’s clothing and objects to look at how this process can mirror the experiences of her grief.

Vicky found that the metaphor and creativity of mending provided a mental space that was helpful in restoring her sense of self. She found a safe place that provided understanding of how emotional connection with her deceased partner could still be honoured and seen by others.

Vicky will bring along her repairs to the talk and invites any attendees to bring an object that has emotional connection that they feel safe to talk about in discussion.

About the presenter

Vicky Cutler is an Anglo-Australian art therapist, textile artist and writer. She writes the blog Re_paire and you can see her creative work and repairs on Instagram at re_paire.

Registration

This is an in-person event and tea and cake will be provided from 6.00pm. The forum will start at 6.15pm. Please book in advance via this link to help with the catering. The Forum will be held at the Adult Education College, Belvoir Street, Leicester, LE1 6QL.

About the Vaughan Open Research Forum

Vaughan Open Research Forum is series of talks, workshops and interactive sessions which are open to anyone who is curious and wants to find out more.

Themes for sessions relate to our core teaching topics, arts, humanities, social sciences, therapy and counselling, and also discuss adult education and co-operative issues.