Sunsets, Rainbows and Dust Storms: Art Therapy, Relationships with God and Nature Metaphor

by Felicitas Drobig, OSU

This thesis explores the relationship between creation, Creator and the creative act. It traces models of Christian relationship to the land and highlights Hildegard of Bingen's concept of "veriditas" or greening power. It presents the art of ten women who were asked to depict their relationship with God through using nature and/or weather metaphors. The art presented contrasts the art they created around their experience of God's presence and God's absence. It suggests that the presence of God is depicted by the colour green, components of green and the presence of ground, while a depiction of the absence of God lacks these elements.