SHAKEPSPARE IS MY DR.PHIL

By Shamique Bowes

Hi, my name is shamique Bowes and art saved my life.

For those people who said they adored high school, and it was the best years of their life…GOD BLESS YOU. Because I flat out… how can I put this nicely… hated it. Don’t get me wrong  I wasn’t one of those loners (no offense loners), but it was the fact that during those years  so much conflict and struggles were going on in my own  personal life. The last straw was my uncle passing away. Anyone who experienced loss knows, losing someone is like losing piece of your world. The grieving process never really ends. As a result I had no outlet.

I remember walking through the halls of Weston collegiate institute as I noticed a poster promoting auditions for the play “Lollipops and gunshots: not your Hollywood story”. I wasn’t the high school club nerd and it definitely wasn’t the beautiful shade of puke green paper that attracted me. I finally told myself, it’s time to let go.

The first time I tried out I felt so deeply connected to the character Renee who lost her father; I cried during my audition. Students began looking at me in awe. Some thinking I was a skilled student but you can bet most coughing “extra!”

It hurts to keep it inside. It kills to carry it around. You see this is where art comes in all shapes and forms as an antidote for life wounds.

I dare and encourage you to start some sort of artistic journey. Hold up! I see back there shaking your head, saying, “But Shamique I don’t have an artistic bone in me.” You’re clearly not getting my point. You don’t have to make it your career, but make it your medicine. By all means find out what your "thing" is and make it your number one prescription. From painting classes to t-shirt making, Canada especially is filled with various artistic activities.

So pick up that needle and thread fashionista and sew on your frustration; Use that pen “The next Margaret Atwood” to write your life story; Put in that titanic DVD heartbroken girl and cry your eyes out. It’s time to start your journey.

It’s Healthy, it’s real, it’s you, and it’s beautifully art.

What sort of journey are you thinking of starting?



Check out how art changed troubled lives