Public Art as a Therapeutic Landscape
Abstract
Infrequently have art, place, and health been studied together. This thesis bridges research in public art and health geography to explore public art as a healing place for artists by building on Wilbert Gesler’s (1992) concept of therapeutic landscapes. The results of this study are based on in-depth interviews (n=17) with public artists in Toronto. The focus of this thesis is on the experiences of artists creating public art in public space, the impact of public art on an artist’s holistic health, and artist’s interpretations of the therapeutic landscape of public art. The findings reflect the experiences of artists as both art-makers and dwellers within the public art landscape. The results explore the holistic health outcomes of art-making for artists, and qualities of the therapeutic landscape. Overall, the impact of public art on an artist’s holistic health is explored and artist’s interpretations of the therapeutic landscape of public art are developed into a framework to measure therapeutic landscapes of public art.