Art Therapy: When Words Are Not Enough

There are things we carry that words simply cannot hold.

Feelings that sit quietly within us, waiting for a way out. Not everything can be explained. Not everything can be spoken. But that does not mean it should remain hidden.

Sometimes, it needs to be expressed differently.

This is where art becomes something more than creation.

It becomes release.

I did not come to understand this through theory.

I lived it.

I had the opportunity to be part of a journey that brought together women from many different backgrounds, each carrying their own stories, their own struggles, and their own truths. Through the program Beyond the Canvas: Voices Unveiled, we were given something rare.

A space.

A space to unmask, to unburden, and to simply exist as we are.

We created without pressure. Without judgment. Without needing to explain ourselves.

And in that process, something shifted.

Art has a way of reaching places within us that words cannot.

It allows what is hidden to come forward, gently. It gives shape to emotions we may not fully understand yet. And in doing so, it opens the door to healing.

Not in a forced way.

But in a truthful one.

This experience was part of a collaboration between Empower Women for Change, the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, and the School of Health and Wellbeing in Glasgow.

What they created was more than a program.

It was a space for transformation.

Embracing Diversity

As part of this journey, I created the piece Embracing Diversity.

"Embracing Diversity"

Acrylic over Canvas

32" x 40"

Embracing Diversity

By Marie Alexandra Báez Vilá

Embody reality, we are but one race, the Human race.

Mountains can be moved aside if we all stand together.

Bravery is crucial to push aside ideologies that separate us.

Run towards the truth, for it shall set us free, and freedom is priceless.

Acknowledge you are not alone, we are many and have much in common.

Caring for one another is a calling we all have and should act upon.

Imagination has no limits, and it is pivotal for human development.

Navigate innovative ideas propelling us beyond conventional limits.

Give generously to those in need regardless of background differences.

Dare to love unconditionally and teach the young to love this way.

It is natural to see each other as ONE collective.

Victorious are those who find strength in unity!

Everyone deserves love, respect and kindness.

Retrospective thought is needed to become our better selves.

Serenity and Peace will be bountiful when we rely on one another.

Identify yourself as human and let go of all other labels which keep us apart.

Trust that all will be well with faith, hope, good thoughts and good actions.

You are beautiful just the way you are, never forget that!

This piece was exhibited throughout October 2024 alongside the work of many incredible women. The original has now been sold, and it will not be seen publicly again in the same way.

But its message remains.

I was born in Puerto Rico.

From a young age, we are taught who we are. We are a mixture of Spanish, African, and Taíno Indigenous roots. Within one single family, you can see every shade, every feature, every expression of that history.

And yet, we are one.

We are family.

Living in today’s world, where labels continue to divide us, I felt a deep need to express something that feels very simple to me.

We were never meant to focus on what separates us.

We were meant to recognise what connects us.

And even when we notice our differences, they are not there to divide us. They are there to be understood, appreciated, and celebrated.

Because the truth is this.

We are one race.

The human race.

This painting reflects that.

She is Diversity.

She embodies all of us.

Her skin carries many shades, just as we do. She embraces herself, and in doing so, she embraces all of us. She is imperfect, as we all are, and that is exactly what makes her real.

Her hair is made out of human hands.

Hands that represent unity. Hands that represent different cultures, identities, and histories coming together as one. Within those hands are hearts, symbols of the values we already carry within us.

The ability to love, to understand, to grow.

The background is gold.

Because embracing diversity is priceless.

This piece is not just about identity.

It is about responsibility.

Who we are goes far beyond where we come from. It is found in how we treat one another. In the values we choose to live by. In the way we show up in the world.

Art taught me something through this experience.

That when we express what is true within us, we begin to understand ourselves.

And when we understand ourselves, we begin to understand others.

So let us embrace one another.

Let us learn from one another.

Let us choose kindness, respect, and love.

Because it is in our differences, brought together, that something truly beautiful is created.

A masterpiece.