Art Guides Children and Parents Through Grief

Author Ann Faison‘s understanding of grief began with her own grieving process after giving birth to her still-born child. She is trained as a visual artist, a musician, and a healer, so her healing process naturally leads to a focus on art. She believes that the best path towards healing is through expressing grief creatively and talking through the feelings of the process.

Faison’s recent book, Dancing with the Midwives: A Memoir of Art and Grief, leads the reader through her intimate experience with grief. The book is made up of Ann’s observations throughout her healing process, delivered though short prose, poetry, and drawings. The book celebrates the inherent – but often overlooked – beauty in the grieving process.

“[This book is] a personal story that carries a universal message:  That grief is difficult and challenging,  but ultimately good.”

Faison holds an MFA from Cal Arts in Music and Art, and her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the country. For the past ten years, she has worked with David Elliott, an internationally-renowned healer and author, and she has become certified in breath-work training. She hosts regular workshops to help parents who have shared her experience, and began a workshop in January to help children address grief through artwork.

In the video below, Faison discusses her experiences with grief. You can see more of this video at her website.

Photo Source.