TERRY MARKS-TARLOW, PhD
Everyone is struggling during the time of the coronavirus. The whole world feels sick. We are all adjusting, forced into stillness and reflection. Apart from economic conditions, some of us can handle the challenge and many cannot. Harnessing one’s inner creativity is an important antidote to outer chaos. During this difficult time, I am working on a fun project illustrating and co-creating a graphic novel with my New York City based colleague, Leanne Domash, PhD, entitled The Eel and the Blowfish: A Graphic Tale of Dreams, Trauma & Healing. The story, based loosely on our clinical experiences, is one of brother/sister incest and recovery.
Brainmatter Productions
(Mixed Media: Digital & Hand-Rendered Art, Colored Pencils)
The protagonist, Toni, dreams of being a writer, and this image represents her dream come true—her screenplay is being made into a movie. I too dream of being a writer, and in truth, this may be my deepest identity. This project keeps me sane and excited. I can feel the thin divide between people going crazy versus those able to harness their creativity to dive deeper. A great polarity exists. Happily, for me, creativity is winning out, helping me to stay grounded, emotionally available, and hopefully therapeutic to others.