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The Arts and Health I: Artists on the WardsMarch 2007
Artists on the Wards |
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Table of Contents Introduction Growing Support for the Arts in Healthcare Artists on the Wards Conclusion All Resources When the Friends of University Hospitals began the Artists on the Wards program, three visual artists were hired to work with adult patients for a period of four months. The aim was to introduce patients and their caregivers to professional artists, who would lead them in talking about art, create for them, and ultimately help them develop an interest and comfort-level that would allow them to create on their own. Verbal and written feedback from medical staff was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. “The interaction with the artists seems to give [patients] a sense of control, purpose, and accomplishment that brings balance back to many of them. Clearly, physical healing is only one aspect of well-being, and I think [this] program plays a significant role in the psychological healing associated with disease...” – Dr. Dale Lein, pulmonologist at the University of Alberta Hospital “The times that we have observed the artist with the patients, the mood of the patients seems to be brighter…The patients have something to do, and this may lessen the amount of depression … [They] also seem more motivated and determined to get involved in returning to daily activities.” – Carrie Briones, nursing-staff member Patient feedback was equally positive. “Thank-you so much for the art supplies. I spent many hours playing and found that it was great for venting my frustrations. Some of my work showed a lot of emotion with its vivid colors! This is a great program. Please keep the program going”. – a patient “I want to express a very heartfelt thank you to your artist. Her timing on stopping into my room to ask if I’d like to contribute to the ‘Look in Your Eye’ mural could not have been more perfect. I spent a few hours creating, during which I forgot where I was. I had a wonderful time.” – a patient Visual artists involve the patients in drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, bookmaking, beading, gel transfers, and origami. Patients have painted gowns, pillowcases, ceiling tiles, wall tiles, windows, and their own bodies. They have made murals, dream catchers, mandalas, mobiles, collages, and hope jars, among many other creations. Our writers help patients write poetry memoirs and keep journals. They read aloud from literature that celebrates strength, hope, joy, and humour. They offer blank journals and autobiography guides that encourage reflection and evoke positive memories. They hand out “Thoughts for the Day” and “Poetic Medicine.” They involve patients and staff in composing or selecting poems for the multitude of whiteboards installed all over the hospital. They also write poems for patients that reflect their life and identity. The writers monitor a writing desk in our patient library. It hosts a public journal for anyone who would like to record some thoughts or leave a short story. The stories recorded are very poignant, and readers respond to each other with words of encouragement. One of our patient’s caregivers returned to write in the journal on the anniversary of her sibling’s death. Writers also host public readings in the Gallery and select a variety of poems to frame and display in our Poets’ Walk, a very busy corridor. In 2001, the Friends published a number of the patients’ poems in a collection entitled Read Two Poems and Call Me in the Morning. It is very affirming for patients and their caregivers to see their artwork or writing displayed. It captures the patients’ need to make a mark, to say “I exist. I was here.” Successful projects include those in which patients’ work becomes part of a larger artistic installation. Our musicians perform daily for patients. They take requests, play their own compositions, and invite their audience to sing along. Musical instruments include portable keyboard, harp, lute, guitar, and Native-American flutes, as well as voice. Our repertoire ranges from country favorites to operatic pieces in a variety of languages. Our visual artists and writers are equally skilled at handling patients with physical or neurological limitations. The Friends have received written feedback from caregivers about how much poems, songs, or portraits have meant to them. This feedback has taught us to never underestimate the power of creating for patients who cannot create for themselves. Increasingly, our musicians are requested to play for patients as they are being disconnected from life-support. And, more frequently, caregivers request these poems or songs to be read or sung at patients’ funerals. Conclusion |
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