Emergency services expert and sculptor Bruce Esplin shares his experiences of the value of participative arts in recovering from trauma…..

They say time heals all – some call time the great healer. They are wrong!

Time, without other interventions, merely camouflages – builds a thin skin – over the deep seated psychological wounds that physical and more particularly, mental trauma causes.

In 2003, I had the privilege of meeting survivors from Victoria’s horrific 1939 Black Friday bushfires. Counseling and recovery support really did not exist in those days and many if not most, still carried the emotional scars of their traumatic experiences. Sixty plus years had done little to erase those painful memories.

By contrast, I have a shelf full of DVD’s, CD’s and books of photos, poetry, songs and stories given to me by individuals and communities after more recent disasters. I have officially opened sculptures commissioned by communities, listened to choirs and steel-pan bands, watched plays and read books written by survivors of nature’s fury. I have seen children participate in circus training and watched with amazement as they are taken into the burnt bush on a repeat basis over time and encouraged to sketch what they see – witnessed their sketches evolving from totally black and grey, to the inclusion of patches of vibrant reds and greens of the first regrowth, to more and more green with representations of the slowly returning wildlife being added.

I have watched silently as adults in the twilight of their lives are encouraged to paint, or sew, or knit, or sing, or dance or write or record their experiences digitally.  Their initial hesitation and reluctance slowly becoming enthusiasm – even joy.

More importantly, I have watched and listened as they start talking, start sharing what they have been through – a critical element of recovery.

I have watched as they – the young and the not so young – slowly, even reluctantly, finish their chosen artistic activity and return to the huge task of grieving, of rebuilding their lives, and ultimately, of recovering. They go to this task in a better mindset. I would argue – and there is some psychological theory to support this – they take that creativity with them and are more able to cope with what lies ahead, and what can certainly be daunting to even the most resilient of individuals.

In my experience, art plays a critical, but hugely undervalued role in this process. However, I don’t believe it is art as a spectator activity – it is the participation, the involvement in the creative process that makes the difference.

Art works for both the community, and the individual dealing with trauma.

On a personal level, I remember writing pages of notes on everything that was happening to me when I battled cancer at age 25 – initially I was a little disconcerted – this was not a response I would have expected – I wasn’t a big writer! Only later did I realize that it was a coping strategy – albeit, a subconscious or intuitive one!

During the time I led the Victorian BushFire Inquiry in 2003, I turned to sculpture as a cathartic process to help me manage my own stress. During the Royal Commission into the catastrophic 2009 Victorian bushfires, sculpture again played an enormous part in helping me cope with the stress and tension of being a key player in such an adversarial process. In fact my first, lost-wax casting bronze sculpture emerged during this time!

Art is, by its very nature, investigative and thoughtful, and this can enable the individual to explore their emotions and tensions. The outcome of creating something or doing something, is a certain satisfaction. A satisfaction that something now exists that wasn’t there before.

Art can play such a vital role in the recovery of individuals and of communities, but it won’t just happen.  It needs to be better supported by all levels of Government and included as a formal part of disaster recovery arrangements.

Bruce Esplin

Bruce is a board member of Regional Arts Victoria, a board member of the Kinglake Ranges Foundation and a board member and fellow of Emergency Media and Public Affairs. His company is employed in providing expert advice in the corporate and not for profit sector. He is an regular presenter on radio.  The former, and first, Victorian Emergency Services Commissioner (a position he held for 10 years), he held senior positions in emergency management in Victoria for over 20 years. He was awarded the Centenary Medal for his public service in the emergency management sector.  Bruce was an advocate for an inclusive approach to emergency management, and encouraged collaborative partnerships between community, all levels of government, the emergency services and the private sector.  Bruce maintains an ongoing commitment to the emergency management sector and holds a vision for progressive emergency management arrangements where communities are not passive recipients of services, but active participants in their own safety planning and decision making.  He is a committed advocate for change in the emergency management sector.  Bruce is a committed photographer and sculptor and is a very passionate advocate and frequent speaker on the roles art can play in assisting individuals and communities rebuild their lives after trauma.

Photo:  Bruce Esplin sculpture Tempered by Fire