 The Art of Healing
Learning sewing and embroidery from her mother, S. Barbara Kukla, a Racine Dominican Sister who lives in Findlay, Ohio, got her first interest in art. She soon found that she was quite good at it and enjoyed putting different colors, patterns, and shapes together. Now, for S. Barbara art is not just a hobby, but a passionate ministry. She is an art therapist, helping people who are in pain deal with their issues by using art materials. Though she has been an art therapist for 13 years, S. Barbara finds that she is constantly learning and gaining new insights from her clients.
S. Barbara serves residents of a domestic violence shelter called First Step in Fostoria, OH, as well as cancer survivors and their caretakers through the Radiation Therapy Center of Mercy Hospital in Tiffin, OH. She said that her clients generally appreciate the art. "Some are a bit fearful because they think they have to be able to draw, but I explain how art is a metaphor and art therapy is art from the heart."
Therapy done through art is a nonverbal, unthreatening way for the clients to deal with their issues and often receive new insights into their lives. "Simply doing the art is healing in itself," said S. Barbara. "It calms them, organizes their thoughts, and lets them vent their feelings."
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 A common theme in the therapy sessions is loss. Both groups she works with are fighting for their lives in some way. "Cancer survivors," she said, "have looked at death in the eye and have seen loss, while abused women have wrestled with relationships and dreams turned sour and lost."
Being a Racine Dominican Sister, she is committed to helping others grow and mature. The people she serves grow and change in therapy, and she hopes they will then go out and influence others as well. She believes healing is not just dealing with the body, but also the spirit. "Art is very close to religion and spirituality," said S. Barbara. "Everything you see around you is a sign of God's presence. We believe in promoting a healthy Earth - and healthy people."
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