1. < Just Want to Talk

Art for Healing

Posted by Harriet Hodgson @harriethodgson1, Oct 26, 2018

Kudos to the Montreal Museum of Fine Art for allowing physicians to write prescriptions for free admission to the museum. And kudos to Mayo Clinic for its art program. From the beginning, Mayo Clinic believed that art can uplift patients and foster healing. Whether it's Rochester, Jacksonville or Scottsdale, Mayo Clinic displays a wide range of artwork for patients. The Rochester site published a brochure for a self-guided tour of artwork. I live in Rochester and every time I'm at Mayo, I take the time to look at the artwork.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

Parus | @parus | Nov 26, 2018
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@parus I was a shy one too. That might be hard to believe since I'm here..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@parus I was a shy one too. That might be hard to believe since I'm here talking about art, but I learned to love the real appreciation that I got from people, and watching them enjoy my paintings makes me feel good that I gave them some joy. The people who like it stop and look for a bit, the others look politely and walk on by. There are also those who want to tell me how their grandmother can do this too, and that's OK if they want to think that, as I know it's not likely to be the truth. I don't need to please everyone and art is so personal. I know lots of artists and all of our work is different, equally good, but it reflects the individual who created it and their response to what moved them to create it. Yes, it does feel like being exposed, but let that be our secret. When you stop to think about it and you realize that only you knew how to create it, and that they wouldn't be able to do that just like you did, and that they are not making the connection to the exposure because they haven't tried to do this, then you're giving them something that they didn't know about, and teaching them what you think is important. When you start marketing your talent in hopes of sales, you need to learn to be entertaining and to connect with people on a personal level. I used to be nervous about public speaking, and one day at an art show that I was in, someone put a mic in front of me and asked me to say something about my work. I was totally unprepared and couldn't think of much to say, but I realized what an opportunity that was, and that I needed to be prepared to talk about my experiences and my work at any time. I have no fear of public speaking now, and have given a talk at a museum along with a solo show of my work, and I have been interviewed on a live TV talk show about my work that was in an auction. I was able to set up that opportunity through a connection and get air time to promote a charity fundraiser for a volunteer fire department with my art work, and talk about the experiences I had on a covered wagon trip that was the source of the painting that I had in the show. I guess this would be an example of how being an artist changed my life and gave me confidence in other areas. Art is problem solving, and those skills relate to ways to creatively solve other problems. It's OK if you do it just for yourself and don't share it with the world, as it's a benefit either way.

Jump to this post

@jenniferhunter I will be happy to leave the stage entirely yours. Thank you for your input.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 30, 2018

Today Harriet is our featured Connect member. Click the link below to read and add your comment to @hopeful33250's interview with Harriet.

– Making Time for Herself Helps Her Help Others: Meet @harriethodgson1 https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed/making-time-for-herself-helps-her-help-others-meet-harriethodgson1/

Check out all the Member Spotlights here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/newsfeed/

REPLY
Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Dec 5, 2018

I just found this story about a bedside arts program at Mayo. Now that really is Art for Healing. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/champions/newsfeed-detail/?link_id=971155 I think that would be fun to do that with patients. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr5TyOaNxR0

REPLY
Harriet Hodgson | @harriethodgson1 | Dec 5, 2018

There is also a traveling art program. A friend of mine volunteered in this program for years. She wheeled a cart of pictures around the hospital. If the patient didn't like the art in their room, they could choose a more meaningful picture from the cart.

REPLY
Harriet Hodgson | @harriethodgson1 | Dec 5, 2018

Thanks for the like Ginger.

REPLY
Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Dec 10, 2018

I found this today about how understanding and appreciating art can make medical students become better doctors in how they relate to patients and by fine tuning their observation skills. I love this. It helps them learn empathy and helps prevent physician burnout by finding other view points. As an artist who has an understanding of biological science, it would be really interesting to be able to teach an art class for doctors. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-art-help-med-students-better-doctors

REPLY
3 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Dec 10, 2018
In reply to @jenniferhunter "I found this today about how understanding and appreciating art can make medical students become better..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

I found this today about how understanding and appreciating art can make medical students become better doctors in how they relate to patients and by fine tuning their observation skills. I love this. It helps them learn empathy and helps prevent physician burnout by finding other view points. As an artist who has an understanding of biological science, it would be really interesting to be able to teach an art class for doctors. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-art-help-med-students-better-doctors

Jump to this post

Thanks for sharing the link Jennifer! I copied and posted to my Facebook feed..have a couple of young doctors who I hope see the post.

REPLY
2 replies
Harriet Hodgson | @harriethodgson1 | Dec 10, 2018
In reply to @jenniferhunter "I found this today about how understanding and appreciating art can make medical students become better..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

I found this today about how understanding and appreciating art can make medical students become better doctors in how they relate to patients and by fine tuning their observation skills. I love this. It helps them learn empathy and helps prevent physician burnout by finding other view points. As an artist who has an understanding of biological science, it would be really interesting to be able to teach an art class for doctors. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-art-help-med-students-better-doctors

Jump to this post

Thanks for this enlightening post.

REPLY
Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Dec 10, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "Thanks for sharing the link Jennifer! I copied and posted to my Facebook feed..have a couple..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Thanks for sharing the link Jennifer! I copied and posted to my Facebook feed..have a couple of young doctors who I hope see the post.

Jump to this post

@johnbishop That's great! I would really love to teach about art to a group of doctors. I kind of feel like a person who can bridge that gap. I almost applied to medical school, but I changed my mind and worked in biological research for awhile instead. I later left the lab and went to art school. I read a lot about medical issues and after asking questions at my mom's appointments, I've had doctors ask me if I work in health care. I was wearing a Mayo shirt at the time and that caught their attention too. I guess I've been using my artist "observation skills" for a long time everywhere which helps me figure out health issues. After seeing your comment, I added this link to my facebook page too.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.