Please Read: An Important Message for Film Library Users

ON LANGUAGE
As an organization committed to social justice, we acknowledge that some of this library’s material spanning many years includes outdated clinical terminology that is no longer politically correct. We hope that the changing use of language will facilitate open discourse about its importance in the arts therapies.

ON APPROACHES
We do not endorse any specific approach or methodology represented in the films in this collection. We are not under any illusion that every therapist action is best or would be approved of by all clinicians. We do believe that presenting a wide range of styles and approaches allows viewers to find what resonates with them, so that they can develop their own ways of working with others.

ON VINTAGE FILMS
We have included a number of older films and therapy sessions that are of lower visual and sound quality, because we believe that their content is valuable for both historical and educational reasons.  There are classic films like The Magic Mirror of Aloyse, an early “outsider” artist creating in a mental hospital, and The Creative Connection by Natalie Rogers; as well as footage of art sessions conducted by such pioneers as Elinor Ulman and Edith Kramer, often with commentary by contemporary art therapists.

ON CONFIDENTIALITY
Some of the people in the Expressive Media films of arts therapy sessions were volunteers and some were taped in inpatient, outpatient and community settings. We are indebted to all who have agreed to allow their images and work to be shown for educational purposes. We therefore ask all viewers to respect their privacy as much as possible and to agree to keep confidential whatever you see. We also ask that you not discuss or share images or information from the videos with anyone outside of an educational setting.

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WATCH A FREE FILM PREVIEW FROM OUR COLLECTION

Check back periodically for a free digital preview from our extensive collection of films on the arts in healing. These excerpts and shorts are offered in gratitude for those donors who helped make this project possible. You can help us maintain this costly service by donating now. 

FINDING THE GOLD INSIDE: ALCHEMY FOR URBAN YOUTH
Director/Producer/Writer/Camera/Editor: Karina Epperlein

Watch this inspiring excerpt from our film, built around a much longer excerpt from a 2014 award-winning film by Karina Epperlein. Both are about Alchemy, Inc., an award-winning after school youth program fusing drumming and mythology, in a well-designed and powerful approach. In addition to a lengthy excerpt from the film, we have added interviews with experts who address the methodology and history of the group. G. Kwame Scruggs, whose PhD is in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology, is the founder and co-leader of Alchemy. Robert Miller is a Music Therapist who is trained in drumming circles as well as Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). Both describe and deconstruct ways of working with youth groups using culturally relevant myths and drumming, which increase both self-knowledge and confidence. The film itself touches on universal and existential struggles, as well as racial justice issues facing young Black men. We hope you will enjoy this brief taste of the power of both myth and music to facilitate change and self-esteem in a thoughtful, sensitive, and creative intervention.

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