Mental imagery and dreams : art therapy with visually impaired adolescents

Vision is considered to be the dominant sense modality in our society. Many of the colloquialisms we use tend to rely upon imagery that privileges sight. This exploratory study investigates visual imagery in relationship to the visually impaired. It questions whether creative expression can facilitate an articulation of mental imagery and dreams with this population. It reviews research in the areas of psychology, art education, art therapy, mental imagery, dreams and perception that has contributed insights into the art abilities of the visually impaired. Some of the primary findings in this literature demonstrate that those without sight have an understanding of perspective, occlusion, depth of field and motion. Additionally, research in the area of mental imagery shows that the visually impaired understand spatial knowledge in similar ways to sighted individuals. The dreams of the early and late blind demonstrate that both groups are able to perceive concrete spatial layouts while dreaming. Furthermore, absence of vision is shown to have no effect on the richness and narrative continuity of dreams. Art therapy is found to offer the visually impaired a space where they can communicate their dreams as well as their unique experiences through concrete visual forms. In turn, it serves as a vehicle through which the visually impaired enter into communication with the sighted world. Overall, this study offers insights into other methods of looking at and perceiving the worl