Come in for Episode 3 of Creative Mental Health featuring Dr. Alexis McKenzie and local DMV artist John Veere.

How does art infiltrate the mind and produce art?  Usually it is through great inspiration that can come as a result of trauma or mania.  But are those the only avenues?  While certainly mental health challenges have affected artists from Vincent Van Gogh to Basquiat to Kurt Cobain and other young musicians not to mention plenty of artists and musicians no one has ever heard of, is there also just inspiration itself for the sake of it?  Lishma. The Jews have this wonderful Yiddish saying.  Lishma.  For the sake of it.  Is there a hidden truth that as much as there is the obvious element of art through trauma, what about healed trauma that also reflects itself in art?

Dr. Alexis McKenzie, Msc.D., CDP, RM, CHT is a clinical therapist and artist with over 25 years of working in the field of Alzheimer's and related dementia.  A trained Reiki master and hypnotherapist, she is also a talented artist who works with canvas and watercolors.  Follow her art on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063570933290

John Veere is a Maryland based sculpture artist who creates unique works of art through aluminum can recycle art, toy photography, canvas art and popsicle stick sculpture art just to name a few.  Follow his art on Instagram at @shadowdragon2k23