Portrait of the Artist as Poet Endorsements

“Creativity is perhaps the most defining aspect of the human condition, and arguably it’s most revitalizing. Portrait of the Artist as Poet poignantly and passionately brings these points home. Carol Cox and Peggy Heller have done a laudatory job in bringing this wonderful book to fruition.” ~ from the Foreword by Gene D. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., author of The Creative Age and The Mature Mind 

“This beautifully presented book offers haiku word-picture portraits that provide a tantalizing glimpse into thirty-four therapeutic artist-poets. They share their creative process. Whether art therapist or not—the preponderance of them are--they model the interplay of intrapersonal and interpersonal process. Some of the art alludes to personal loss. Some is sensate and playful. Their creative energies have found an awesome range of outlets—teacher, therapist, professional artist, community activist, founders of programs. Truly for these creators art is life and life is art. Their reflections on the interplay for them of visual and verbal art is captivating and, not surprisingly, diverse. The reader will be fascinated by their lives and inspired by their examples.” ~ Kenneth P. Gorelick, M.D. RPT, psychiatrist and clinical poetry therapist 

“Editors Cox and Heller stretch a canvas onto which they paint an elegant poem of a form:  biographies and essays of seasoned artists/art therapists that speak to and demonstrate the interplay of visual and poetic art.  Themes of sacredness, pain, beauty, memory, and connection weave through the stories and are echoed in the creative works.  A rare invitation into the soul of creativity, this book soars with numinous grace. I emerged changed.” ~ Kathleen Adams, MA, LPC, RPT-M/S,   registered poetry/journal therapist, Director, Center for Journal Therapy, Denver