Art as Transformation: The Life and Work of Shaun McNiff

These two films chronicle the contributions of Dr. Shaun McNiff in expressive arts therapies.  Shaun McNiff is the University Professor at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where, in 1974, he founded the first training program in the Expressive Therapies, initiating the development of a multimodal approach to the use of the creative arts in therapy which has since grown considerably. Currently, he has established a program in Advanced Graduate Studies in Creativity, Imagination, and Leadership.  At this point in his career he is an internationally recognized figure in the area of creativity enhancement, and is the author of several books, including Trust the Process: An Artist’s Guide to Letting Go, and Art as Medicine: Creating a Therapy of the Imagination.

In the first film, Dr. Bruce Moon takes viewers into an extensive philosophical interview with McNiff, where both men discuss topics of intense interest to anyone interested in art and therapy.  In addition, viewers watch McNiff working with large groups of students, as he shares his passion for expressive arts therapies and how they can heal and help minister to the soul. He incorporates music, drumming, and movement into his work, demonstrating how all the arts are integrally related.

In the second film, McNiff is seen working with a group at the London Art Therapy Centre, using a similarly passionate and multimodal approach. He has a distinctive way of engaging and motivating groups, one that promotes intense involvement by the participants.

Total Running Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes, 14 seconds