Lecture by Art Therapy Pioneer Dr. Frances Anderson
On March 18th, 2015 the Department of Art Education was paid a special visit by renowned Art Therapist, Dr. Frances E. Anderson. She held a lecture at the William Johnston Building here at Florida State University for students of the Department
Dr. Frances E. Anderson is considered one of the pioneers of art therapy for her exceptional work in the field. She is one of the founders and an honorary lifetime member of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). Anderson is a researcher, a distinguished professor, an author, and the first art therapist to receive a Fulbright Senior Scholar Award and spent four months teaching art therapy in Buenos Aires Argentina. This past April, Anderson was one of two academics to receive Fulbright Senior Specialist awards to present at the Fulbright Conference commemorating 60 years of the Fulbright in Pakistan. She traveled to the northern areas of Pakistan and taught art therapy at Korakorum International University in Gilgit, Baltistan.
Dr. Anderson has also served as the editor of Art Therapy, Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, and as a member of the AATA Education and Program Approval Board. She has published several books including Art for All the Children: A Creative Sourcebook for the Impaired Child, Art for All the Children: Approaches to Art Therapy for Children with Disabilities, Art-centered Education and Therapy for Children with Disabilities.
Dr. Anderson spoke to the group about her beginnings in the field of Art Therapy, as well as her continued development into her niche areas of interest. She discussed her interest in international issues, which led to her multiple trips overseas through Fulbright. Dr. Anderson showed the students several pictures of her travels as a Fulbright Senior Scholar while in Pakistan. She then opened the floor for questions and gave insight regarding art therapy research, working with three dimensional art medium, and even the process involved in finding a career in the field.
Dr. Gussak, Chair of the Department of Art Education and Professor of Art Therapy, had this to say about the meeting with Dr. Anderson:
It was a distinct pleasure and honor to have one of the founding members of field, instrumental in helping develop our program, return to not only share her stories but to see all that we’ve become over the years.
The Department of Art Education is incredibly pleased to have hosted such an influential pioneer of Art Therapy and want to thank Frances Anderson for sharing her time.
