The Art of Healing
Throughout history, the creation and reception of art have played a significant role in human development. From early cave drawings to NFTs, humans create to document events, solve problems and express themselves. No matter what the art form is, the result is a gift that sparks a reaction, a question, or an emotion that can significantly impact. Our experience with artwork is vital to our purpose, well-being, and survival as both artists and enthusiasts.
Susan McCalmont founded Object's Trouvés to further her exploration of our relationship with art. She intends to deepen the bonds between zealous creators, collectors, and artworks through education, discovery, and meaningful connection. Susan's unique experience collaborating with international creators and exhibiting their salient works have exposed her to art's influential impact on its makers and audience. Noelle Mc Alinden is one of Objets Trouvés consigned artists who have experienced firsthand how the creation and reception ( the dialogue & experience between the creation and response) to the artwork can heal.
Noelle is the eldest of seven children raised on the shores of the largest lake in Ireland. She describes her family as passionate about life, community-driven, and always focused on "we" instead of "me." As a child, Noelle relished her older sister's role and was passionate about art, history, and sociology. She fondly recalls dancing on the stage in her quaint village as a young girl. Her creative passion and fondness for her empathetic teachers inspired Noelle to pursue an art educator's path while committing to her role as an artist. However, she had no idea how her career decision would change her forever.
Noelle was a flourishing 28-year-old art and geography teacher when a student confided in her that they were planning on taking their life. The unsettling confession stunned Noelle and made her realize that educators needed to understand how mental health issues impacted their teaching ability. This experience enabled and empowered Noelle to support students and educators finding life challenging to get the assistance they needed and soon began focusing on supporting struggling educators. Her artistic background inspired her to teach others how to express their feelings creatively. "When we are self-expressed, we are less likely to be depressed," states Noelle. She thrived in her new role and loved inspiring others to overcome their struggles using creativity. Noelle felt a sense of purpose and accomplishment doing the work. However, her loving family subsequently were devastated by the unimaginable pain and witnessed those she loved most face unbearable suffering.
Noelle McAlinden
An ordinary phone call delivered the devastating news that one of her sisters had died by suicide. The tragedy shook the tight-knit family in the small Northern Ireland village, and each day after was an exhausting struggle for everyone to make sense of their loss and try to heal. As the eldest child and someone with training to support others through loss and trauma, Noelle devoted herself to helping her family do the same. However, the time she spent helping her family did not allow her to process her pain and loss.
The desire to revisit her creativity inspired Noelle to paint unprocessed feelings and explore her inner emotional landscape. Her journey soon evolved into a series of large-scale paintings that formed her 'Out of the Blue' exhibition series. One of her paintings, Little Blue, illustrates, in brilliant cobalt, a caring mermaid caressing a newborn child. Noelle states the mermaid shows her connection to the Irish waterways, and the beautiful embrace represents "joy, birth, and the life we have -- the importance of nurturing ourselves and nurturing each other." The expressive artwork celebrates the personal connection to the birth of her nephew in the family three days after her sister's death. A year later, Noelle exhibited her 'Out of the Blue Series' in a public show in her island town. She invited her family, friends, and community to experience the artwork she created to celebrate life and process loss. Sharing her feelings through her work freed Noelle from her pain and brought comfort and joy to her entire family.
Left photo : Becoming Undone Series - Humility in Hostage by Noelle McAlinden
Middle photo : Becoming Undone Series - The Road to De Mask Us by Noelle McAlinden
Right photo : Becoming Undone Series - Seeking Sanctuary by Noelle McAlinden
Today, Noelle encourages and mentors artists and educators to express themselves and remains dedicated to creating meaningful and reflective artworks. Since her 'Out of the Blue' exhibition, Noelle exhibited a series of exhibitions with personal themes and references to life experiences called 'Precious Cargo' and 'Emotional Landscape.' Both shows are focused on expressing intimate feelings of a sense of place, family bonds, and a connection with others.
Noelle recognizes the fragility of the human condition but believes we are all incredibly resilient. She intends for her work to further her curiosity about the link between humanity and an emotional connection to a sense of place. Currently, she is working on the theme "Becoming Undone," an idea inspired by human beings coming undone from the fragility of life experiences. Noelle feels "Becoming Undone" reflects times when we seek to make sense of the chaos and crises that may consume us. Although becoming undone can be painful, Noelle states, "The less you force it, the more it unravels to free the person." No matter what Noelle creates, her work is profoundly personal, and the response from those who experience it has been comforting, joyful, emotionally liberating, and curative.
History has taught us that creative expression is a potent way to cope with stress, anxiety, and hurt caused by the uncertainty of life. For example, Frida Kahlo's artwork illustrates her suffering following a devasting bus accident, and Edvard Munch's paintings helped him cope with his feelings of unrest. Objets Trouvés consigned artist Armanh sculpted 'The Child of War' to express his condemnation towards war and Janice Tayler's upcoming exhibition 'Layered Suspensions in Fragmented Space' to reflect her experience during the traumatic Covid-19 pandemic. However, you don't need to be a professional to reap the therapeutic benefits of art. If we can find the time and muster the courage to write, paint, build, sculpt, sing, or dance, we can begin communicating suppressed feelings in creative ways that encourage healing.
Releasing the hurt stored deep in our minds evokes powerful connections when sharing what we create. The remarkable ability of artwork to elevate the well-being of humans is why hospitals and educational institutions display pieces throughout their settings. So, the next time you are struggling with life's unpredictable challenges, try creating something or visit the Objets Trouvés gallery. You might find that expressing yourself or experiencing a work of art will profoundly impact your well-being.
We invite you to visit the Objets Trouvés website to learn more about Noelle Mc Alinden and her work.
