Storytelling as Therapy:
Storytelling is as old as time and can be found everywhere – in entertainment, education, and the promotion of social justice, However, it can also be used in therapy.
In this context, storytelling comes in many shapes: spoken word, music, painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, written word, digital, movement, and dance (visual, auditory, or tactile). It is a form of communication, a tool to help express and navigate traumatic events – to identify, share, cope, and hopefully begin to heal.

The popularity and relevance of the expressive arts therapy minor continues to grow as more and more is discovered about how well people heal from traumatic events using the restorative power of the arts
The creation of a special topics course taught by Professor Jonel Langenfeld  “Storytelling in Performance- Storytelling for Culture, Ethnicity and Social Justice,” provides an immersive, hands-on expressive arts therapy experience for students..

War and healing:
The important work being done in this minor led to a creative collaboration between the theatre department, Artswego, and Tyler Art Gallery. The goal is to produce a storytelling performance to accompany and support the current Tyler Art Gallery exhibition “Fire For Effect” by Paul Pearce and various other artists presenting
“How We Rebuild.” Both exhibitions focus on themes of recovery, rebuilding, and healing after wartime.

Performance in gallery space:
Students from the special topics course will perform an immersive storytelling experience inside Tyler Art Gallery amidst the artwork, to better help express the works of art. With a focus on how we survive and evolve forward after the war and other traumatic events, the storytelling will include monologues written by war veterans and their families, personal stories from students, and visual art, music, and dance.

Unfortunately, the tragedies of war can be anywhere and at any time, whether it be in our own country as with the revolutionary and civil wars or 9-11, or further abroad like Afghanistan, Vietnam, or the current war in Ukraine, we are all affected in some way. But none so much as those who have given their lives to military service ... and not always by choice.

Throughout the years, many teachers and students from SUNY Oswego have served in the military. Artist Paul Pearce is one such individual.
Our performance is in honor of all SUNY Oswego alumni veterans, and for anyone who has endured the tragedies of war, who continues to serve, and for those left behind to rebuild for a better future. No matter what the tragedy or trauma is, telling the story can be the first step to healing.

Special Thanks To:
Paul Pearce, Artist of Fire For Effect
Krystal Kennel, Dept Chair of Theatre 
Miranda Traudt, Director of Arts Programming
Lowell Hutcheson, Asst Dir of Arts Programming
Tim Nekritz, Director of News and Media
Sydney Lawton, Headshot Photographer
Kat McGreevy, Program Designer
Art Department
Expressive Arts Therapy minor
School of Communication Media and The Arts
It's on Oz
COPE
Oswego Alumni Services
Title IX
Military & Veteran Services
ARISE
Counseling and Psychological Services
GJP Italian Eatery