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What is Intermodal Expressive Arts?
The thread of our creativity does not limit itself to one modality. It can move with fluidity through different modalities, with each experience deepening and expanding on the others.
Intermodal Expressive Arts embraces the connection and interplay of the various arts modalities, including:
- All forms of visual art, including photography and craft
- Movement/dance/somatics
- Voice, rhythm, sound, and music
- Drama and enactment
- All forms of writing, including poetry and storytelling
- Guided meditation, use of the imagination, and nature-based practices
Sequencing & layering of creativity
In Intermodal Expressive Arts, two or more arts modalities are typically sequenced or layered.
An experienced expressive arts facilitator or therapist guides the effective interweaving of modalities to provide maximum benefit to the client.
Reclaiming the intermodal aspect of the arts is essentially remembering that we were born with the ability, and the right, to express ourselves creatively in myriad ways.
Offered in a wide variety of settings
The focus of intermodal expressive arts can be individual, group, community, or global. It can be practiced in individual sessions, groups, or large community gatherings.
These are some settings where intermodal expressive arts are offered:
- Clinical settings, including hospitals, mental health agencies offering outpatient care, prisons, therapeutic schools, and residential treatment facilities and nursing homes, by an Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT).
- In education, healthcare, spiritual direction, youth programs, coaching and other community settings by an Expressive Arts Facilitator/Consultant/Educator (REACE®).
- By artists who include more than one modality and a healing, transformational, or social action element in their work.
