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.

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JK | @contentandwell | Jul 22, 2019
In reply to @parus "Stopping by to share what helps me-even more so when things become more complicated. Creativity, for..." + (show)
@parus

Stopping by to share what helps me-even more so when things become more complicated. Creativity, for me, it healing in many ways. When the mind is calm the body can do its job better-this is my opinion. I would like to see more done in this area to help patients. Even adult coloring is helping some of my neighbors.

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Beautiful zebra, @parus I have heard that many find relaxation in adult coloring books. I think it would just the opposite on me. I would be so frustrated due to my lack of creativity that I would end up very tense. The books I have seen have tiny little areas to color too. UGH
JK

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2 replies
lioness | @lioness | Jul 22, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "Beautiful zebra, @parus I have heard that many find relaxation in adult coloring books. I think..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Beautiful zebra, @parus I have heard that many find relaxation in adult coloring books. I think it would just the opposite on me. I would be so frustrated due to my lack of creativity that I would end up very tense. The books I have seen have tiny little areas to color too. UGH
JK

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@contentandwell There are a lot of books I out there that are big areas to color like Bird Books Animal books and flowers ,you just have to look for them when adult coloring first was popular it was all small areas but not anymore. I have a Music one that has big guitars ,drums and more in it . It is relaxing I put myself into the picture I'm doing and forget about the daily grind

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1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 22, 2019
In reply to @parus "Stopping by to share what helps me-even more so when things become more complicated. Creativity, for..." + (show)
@parus

Stopping by to share what helps me-even more so when things become more complicated. Creativity, for me, it healing in many ways. When the mind is calm the body can do its job better-this is my opinion. I would like to see more done in this area to help patients. Even adult coloring is helping some of my neighbors.

Jump to this post

@parus What a beautiful image! Just tonight I was in a Zentangle group, and we did Gustav Klimt inspired tiles. A lady and I discussed how focusing on the creativity of any kind takes your mind to "a different space", and helps you so much. She is "of a certain age" and acknowledged some cognitive impairment. I patiently showed her a pattern. Once, twice, more times than fingers on one hand. We worked through what part of the pattern seemed to be hanging her up, and she finally understood. I used terms until I found what resonated with her. It felt good to help someone like that. Tomorrow when I have my PET scan I am going to be sending tingling in my mind.
Ginger

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 23, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "Beautiful zebra, @parus I have heard that many find relaxation in adult coloring books. I think..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Beautiful zebra, @parus I have heard that many find relaxation in adult coloring books. I think it would just the opposite on me. I would be so frustrated due to my lack of creativity that I would end up very tense. The books I have seen have tiny little areas to color too. UGH
JK

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@contentandwell I agree with you. The small coloring areas make me tense as well!
@lioness Thanks for the information on other books that have larger coloring areas. That sounds good to me.

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Retired Teacher | @retiredteacher | Jul 23, 2019

@contentandwell I agree with you. I would not find coloring at my age relaxing. I think somebody came up with this coloring book for adults business and is laughing all the way to the bank.
The best way for me to relax is to read a good book.
Carol

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2 replies
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jul 23, 2019

@parus. Thank you for sharing your ink drawing of this handsome zebra! I just feel happy by looking at it, and on a personal level, I appreciate the black and white ink technique. I remember seeing zebras at the zoo as a child, and now with granddaughter!

@gingerw, I am fascinated by your zentangles and how you are gifting others by sharing. I think it would be fun to do because I am attracted to detail. I imagine it is like working on a puzzle or counted cross stitch with no stopping until finished.

@contentandwell, @ @hopeful33250, @retiredteacher, Anytime that you are touched by viewing, reading, or hearing a work of art, then the art has served its purpose, and you honor the artist.

@lioness, I, too, put myself into whatever I'm working on. So I understand what you are experiencing. I can easily get completely 'lost' in the process of sewing, or figuring out a pattern, or practicing my music. I am keenly aware that my husband does not 'get it' sometimes when I cannot put down a project.

Here is an example of Art for Healing - at the bedside. This video shows how writers, visual artists and musicians offer a type of care that has nothing to do with tests or treatments. This is an inpatient model. It intrigued me and brought me an answer to an unsettling question that I have had since my transplant 10 years ago. While in the hospital (Mayo Rochester), there was a very ill patient in the next room, and I remember that one day I thought that heard someone playing a violin. It was a piece that I had learned years ago, and I could hear the hesitation on the difficult passages. (just like me). It was beautiful to my ear. Now I have the answer to my own confusion that has haunted me for years!

https://intheloop.mayoclinic.org/2018/11/29/arts-at-the-bedside-provides-a-different-way-of-healing/
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3 replies
lioness | @lioness | Jul 23, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "@parus. Thank you for sharing your ink drawing of this handsome zebra! I just feel happy..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@parus. Thank you for sharing your ink drawing of this handsome zebra! I just feel happy by looking at it, and on a personal level, I appreciate the black and white ink technique. I remember seeing zebras at the zoo as a child, and now with granddaughter!

@gingerw, I am fascinated by your zentangles and how you are gifting others by sharing. I think it would be fun to do because I am attracted to detail. I imagine it is like working on a puzzle or counted cross stitch with no stopping until finished.

@contentandwell, @ @hopeful33250, @retiredteacher, Anytime that you are touched by viewing, reading, or hearing a work of art, then the art has served its purpose, and you honor the artist.

@lioness, I, too, put myself into whatever I'm working on. So I understand what you are experiencing. I can easily get completely 'lost' in the process of sewing, or figuring out a pattern, or practicing my music. I am keenly aware that my husband does not 'get it' sometimes when I cannot put down a project.

Here is an example of Art for Healing - at the bedside. This video shows how writers, visual artists and musicians offer a type of care that has nothing to do with tests or treatments. This is an inpatient model. It intrigued me and brought me an answer to an unsettling question that I have had since my transplant 10 years ago. While in the hospital (Mayo Rochester), there was a very ill patient in the next room, and I remember that one day I thought that heard someone playing a violin. It was a piece that I had learned years ago, and I could hear the hesitation on the difficult passages. (just like me). It was beautiful to my ear. Now I have the answer to my own confusion that has haunted me for years!

https://intheloop.mayoclinic.org/2018/11/29/arts-at-the-bedside-provides-a-different-way-of-healing/

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@rosemarya That is beautiful and so inspiring. Everyone sees something different in this picture . I saw lilies growing in the clouds. What did you see. It was comforting.

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1 reply
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jul 23, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@rosemarya That is beautiful and so inspiring. Everyone sees something different in this picture . I..." + (show)
@lioness

@rosemarya That is beautiful and so inspiring. Everyone sees something different in this picture . I saw lilies growing in the clouds. What did you see. It was comforting.

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@lioness, Oh my gosh! I did not 'see' any particular image. I was focused on the beauty of the colors and the transparency and flow of the watercolors. I am attracted to shades of color. I drive my husband crazy on vacation because I will take repeated photos of the same scene throughout the day because to me, each change in lighting makes a new view. He sees only repeats of the same photo.

I had to go back and look again, and I can see lilies.
Did you see the link to the video? It is at the end of the reading section.

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3 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 23, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "@parus. Thank you for sharing your ink drawing of this handsome zebra! I just feel happy..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@parus. Thank you for sharing your ink drawing of this handsome zebra! I just feel happy by looking at it, and on a personal level, I appreciate the black and white ink technique. I remember seeing zebras at the zoo as a child, and now with granddaughter!

@gingerw, I am fascinated by your zentangles and how you are gifting others by sharing. I think it would be fun to do because I am attracted to detail. I imagine it is like working on a puzzle or counted cross stitch with no stopping until finished.

@contentandwell, @ @hopeful33250, @retiredteacher, Anytime that you are touched by viewing, reading, or hearing a work of art, then the art has served its purpose, and you honor the artist.

@lioness, I, too, put myself into whatever I'm working on. So I understand what you are experiencing. I can easily get completely 'lost' in the process of sewing, or figuring out a pattern, or practicing my music. I am keenly aware that my husband does not 'get it' sometimes when I cannot put down a project.

Here is an example of Art for Healing - at the bedside. This video shows how writers, visual artists and musicians offer a type of care that has nothing to do with tests or treatments. This is an inpatient model. It intrigued me and brought me an answer to an unsettling question that I have had since my transplant 10 years ago. While in the hospital (Mayo Rochester), there was a very ill patient in the next room, and I remember that one day I thought that heard someone playing a violin. It was a piece that I had learned years ago, and I could hear the hesitation on the difficult passages. (just like me). It was beautiful to my ear. Now I have the answer to my own confusion that has haunted me for years!

https://intheloop.mayoclinic.org/2018/11/29/arts-at-the-bedside-provides-a-different-way-of-healing/

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Hi @rosemarya,

It is a very restful picture! Thanks for sharing it.

REPLY
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jul 23, 2019
In reply to @retiredteacher "@contentandwell I agree with you. I would not find coloring at my age relaxing. I think..." + (show)
@retiredteacher

@contentandwell I agree with you. I would not find coloring at my age relaxing. I think somebody came up with this coloring book for adults business and is laughing all the way to the bank.
The best way for me to relax is to read a good book.
Carol

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@retiredteacher I'm a reader as well, Carol. I'm just addicted to good books!

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