Marissa Marie Uher
BA, 2018
What was a challenging moment, class, or interaction that you still think about that was tough at the time but propelled you forward in your thinking or making?
I always found myself comparing my artwork to other's artwork. Art school was difficult because I was being graded or critiqued on personal artwork that meant a lot to me. I got discouraged easily when I would get a negative comment about artwork. However, it propelled me forward to know that personal artwork is for the artist, that other's perspectives should not discourage art making. I always bring this moral to my art therapy patients, so they are not discouraged from participating even if they have never created artwork before.
What are you doing now (life, work, grad school) and how did your time at Tyler help you prepare?
I graduated from Eastern Virginia Medical School with my Master of Science in Art Therapy and Counseling. I am currently working as an art therapist at a psychiatric hospital where I facilitate art therapy sessions for patients with depression, PTSD, behavioral adversities, and psychosis disorders. Tyler School of Art helped prepare me for the field by expanding my knowledge of art materials and procedures so I can better assist my patients in creating artwork that accurately allows them to express and communicate.