Art Therapy in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina

The devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 left hundreds of children without homes, their families struggling to cope with the trauma. In the midst of the chaos, art therapists from across the country descended upon Louisiana, bearing crayons, paint, and sheets of white paper, with the hope of helping children express their emotions through art. The results were striking, as the children's drawings revealed a unique perspective on the storm's impact.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 600 mobile homes filled with evacuees lined a gravel pasture in Renaissance Village, the largest temporary trailer park built in Louisiana after the storm.
• Children's drawings of houses showed recognizable doors and windows, but the walls were often rendered as large triangles, representing the flooded homes they saw in their minds.
• The concept of a home had morphed into the trailers in Renaissance Village, which became a safe space for children to express themselves.
• Art therapists like Karla Leopold and Sister Judith Brun helped coordinate relief programs, often focusing on the forgotten children who had been through trauma.
• One 15-year-old boy's drawing depicted his family's escape from a flooded house, highlighting the stories of survival and resilience.
• The art therapy program provided an important outlet for children, allowing them to express themselves and deal with their emotions in a safe space.
• Twenty years later, many of the children who participated in the art therapy program, including Vivian and Justin Nicholson and Shaniah Twohearts, still recall the experience and its impact on their lives.

Statistics:

• Nearly 1,400 people lost their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
• Over 600 mobile homes filled with evacuees lined a gravel pasture in Renaissance Village.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency built the largest temporary trailer park in Louisiana after the storm.
• Children's drawings showed that the walls of their flooded homes were frequently depicted as large triangles, rather than the typical square bases with pointed tops.
• The art therapy program helped hundreds of children express their emotions and deal with the trauma of the storm.

Sources:

• Leopold, Karla. Quoted in the article as saying, "They couldn't talk about it because it would re-traumatize them. The fact that they can put something on paper and choose to tell you or not is safe."
• Sister Judith Brun. Quoted in the article as saying, "These families went through trauma after trauma, and the children tell the story."
• Nicholson, Vivian. Interviewed in the article, recalling her experience and the impact of the art therapy program on her life.
• Leopold, Karla. Quoted in the article as saying, "Give them a piece of paper and a pencil; they'll do what they need to do."