When Grief and Art Meet: A Journey of Healing

Source: Lauren Saba, used with permission

Since my new book, The Art of Grieving, launched on May 16th, magical synchronicities have occurred. I told a longtime friend and art gallery owner, Lauren Saba, that I'd like to return to my former hometown sometime this summer and hold a book event at her gallery. Shortly afterward, I got a text from Lauren. She sent me a description of the artist that two jurors had just selected as the 2024 Gallery of Dreams summer artist-in-resident at Fort Works Art Gallery:

"Allie Regan Dickerson, a creative director and artist, channels her profound grief into her deeply introspective work. After the diagnosis and subsequent loss of her son to stage 4 lung cancer, Allie's journey into the arts took on a new depth and meaning. Her latest series was conceptualized during long walks in nature as she navigated this personal loss, and it blurs the lines between sculpture and painting, exploring themes of repetition and discontinuation, brokenness and renewal, beauty and loss of beauty, and fragility and strength. Her work during the Gallery of Dreams Residency reflects her commitment to honoring her son's memory and documenting her family's journey through grief, inviting others to share in her story and reflect on their own experiences with loss."

I thought to myself, "I must meet and collaborate with this woman who uses her art to express and process her grief."

Thanks to the Gallery of Dreams, a non-profit in Fort Worth, TX, that "champions contemporary artists and sparks creative experiences for positive community impact," a powerful collaboration unfolded. Allie Regan Dickerson and I shared how engaging in our respective art forms has been instrumental in our grief journeys. Our collaboration brought to life the emerging field of neuroarts, revealing how creative expression can transform our experiences of grief and loss, making the wisdom within these experiences accessible to us in new ways.

In Allie's art studio, we interacted with her compelling artworks using storytelling, dance, music, and voice. This experience illuminated the profound impact of art on processing difficult emotions, showing that when artists collaborate, they honor their individual stories and create a shared space for others to explore and understand their own experiences with loss. It was a vivid reminder of how art's power forges connections, brings healing, and opens new pathways to understanding our deepest emotions.

You don't have to be an "artist" to find ways to use the arts to express and transform your grief. Whether it is a remembrance action, like reviewing old photos, singing a particular song that connects you with your loved one, or celebrating their life with a dance in your kitchen, your art is a powerful tool for healing.