The Distinguished

THE GLEANER’S FLAIR MAGAZINE • MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018

“W

HEN YOU discover what

your passion is, always

remember to carry these

life-lesson gems in your

pocket – perseverance

(drive), endurance,

patience, faith (with a tups

of prayer), and support with

a splash of laughter. These

aren’t taught in school. When

the journey feels difficult,

remember to pick a gem from

your pocket to guide you.” This is the

advice of art therapist and photographer

Lesli-Ann Belnavis.

Surrounded by varying forms of creativity

from a young age, it was only natural for

Belnavis to follow her fate all the way to fine

arts. “I used to dance, sing, and perform in a

church youth group coordinated by my

mother, and later performed with different

dance troupes and in the Jamaica Junior

Theatre Company, where we did

Broadway shows like

The Lion King

and

Beauty and the Beast

.” While attending

St Hugh’s High School, her interest grew

and she developed a passion for the visual

arts. Before completing 11th grade, she

told her parents that she did not want to

continue to upper sixth form, but wanted

to pursue studies in art in the United

States. “My family was extremely

supportive, which led to my completing a

Bachelor of Science degree in Studio Art

from Florida State University,” she

revealed.

NEXT STEP

Armed with her qualifications, she questioned her

next step. Struggling with the fear of returning home

only to fall into the stereotype of becoming a starving

artist, she sought an alternative route. After a

conversation with some friends, she took an unlikely turn,

which led to the most interesting destination yet – art

therapy.

Florida State University offered art therapy as a master’s

degree, she did her research, took an introductory course in

art therapy where her eyes were opened to the art form,

revealing how ignorant she was.

“Art therapy is a mental-health

discipline that combines both the use

of visual art (i.e., drawing, painting,

sculpture, and photography) and

psychology, to help persons express

and cope with various

emotional/behavioural concerns –

physical, developmental and

psychological factors including stress and

grief.” And with this realisation, the rest

became history.

Now working with Mustard Seed

Communities – Jerusalem! Children’s Home,

many of the residents she sees have physical

and neuro-developmental disabilities. Some

of these include cerebral palsy, autism

spectrum disorder, and intellectual

disabilities, but for Belnavis, seeing how

engaged they are in the sessions is a

rewarding experience.

‘DOUBLE EXPOSURE’

Belnavis has delved into showcasing her

own art in a photographic exhibition called

‘Double Exposure’ with artist Michael Elliott

in 2017 – a project that was two years in the

making.

Belnavis, who is willing to experience new

adventures, had taken up tennis. She is very

close to her family – her parents and two

sisters, and counts them as her main support

system. She enjoys Miss Aubrey’s pepper steak and

Jamaica’s national dish with a touch of pork in the mix.

What’s next for Belnavis? Getting back to

painting, and of course, establishing an

Expressive Arts Therapy Centre in

Jamaica.

Lesli-Ann

Belnavis

CONTRIBUTED

PHOTOS

The art of healing

istinguished

THE

The Arts