Blog # 126…February
2022
Quite a few
years ago, I enlivened a job I’d taken in a hospital, out of financial necessity, by involving art students…it was a win/win situation. By bringing in artists, I enhanced
their lives, broadened their experience and influenced their practice as well as my own. Oh yes, it also enriched
the environment and the people there, brought smiles to both patients and staff
who felt less isolated and focused on illness.
There’s a
natural relationship between art and science – dancers need to understand the
physics of movement, painters depend on chemistry to get the subtle effects in
their work and musicians and mathematics work hand in hand. And scientists
often use imagination and creativity in solving problems
Over the years, I’ve seen art and artists appear in a variety of roles in unique settings, collaborating with other specialities and putting these connections into practice. Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto employed poet Ronna Bloom who ran workshops for staff to help them process their experiences. The late and wonderful Priscilla Uppal was in residence at the Rogers Cup for tennis, the Vancouver Winter Games and the Summer Olympics in London, rendering the spirit of sport in lyrical and moving poems.
The latest initiative involves
palliative care doctors at Toronto Western Hospital and the Art Gallery of Ontario. The stress of delivering
sad news to families and friends can be overpowering and the opportunity to have a close and thoughtful interaction with art in a group helps provide some relief and room for
reflection and mindfulness. Equally important is talking about what they’ve observed and felt,
bringing the group members together and enhancing awareness of others' thoughts
and opinions, deepening their capacity for empathy and making them better doctors.
As we
struggle with the isolation of the pandemic, it seems to me there’s a big role
for artists, many of whom have lost their livelihood. Mental health issues
abound in schools, workplaces and long term care facilities…how about actors
recording stories to read to kids and elders, dancers leading movement groups, visual artists introducing
sessions on observing form and colour in
the world around us. I know it’s a leap, but a hopeful one -better than some of the stuff on screens - and important things often
begin with a small thought. Maybe if even a couple of you who read this blog take a step
to include art in your lives in some way, and talk about it with your friends, some ripples will expand.
Remember that we look more attractive when we smile, so search out some reasons to do it, or better still to have a laugh...here's one from a recent New Yorker.
We'll be back in March, look forward to those longer days and a more controlled pandemic!
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