I'm a lucky bird in that I have not had to suffer much in my lifetime, not from physical ailments, at least. However, I have watched both my parents and a sister pass away, and stayed with my nephew as he underwent radiation treatment after he had a medulla blastoma removed at the age of 8. As a volunteer grief counselor, called a Stephen Minister, I have also attended to people with terminal illness and journeyed with them through the final months of their lives on this plane. In all of that suffering, I discovered there are a number of ways to help people focus on the good, the hope, the light, if you will. As Mother was slipping away, my Father asked me to sing Country Roads to her, and her final smile was during that very tough performance, but oh that smile was such a blessing!
Of course during any sort of crisis, music is a soothing balm for the overwhelming feelings of despair, I sing when I'm upset; I sing when I'm happy...but more often when I'm upset. I also doodle in the middle of terse meetings, flowers are my favorite, but I also like to draw eyes (with LOTS of mascara), and houses with chimneys, palm trees also make their appearance every now and then. When I'm at a memorial service or nursing home, I realize that in the end, the one common denominator is always, always, the appreciation for art, especially music because it's soothing to those who can do nothing more than hear. However, an afflicted person also loves to enjoy nature in all its beauty, whether it be the singing of birds, the waving of the bushes and trees before the rain, the flowers brought to cheer them up. So, to me, it seems the need for artistic expression during times of mental or emotional stress is apparent, and it's heartening to know that the best medical facilities today have adopted that school of thought and are introducing art as amelioration to the conventional methods of medical treatment. Even better news is that some of those organizations are right here in the Bluegrass, with plans for all of Kentucky to enjoy the benefits of the healing amalgam the is made when art meets healthcare.
Lexington Cardiologist Nick Kouns and speech pathologist Diane Mason put their heads together a few years ago and decided it was time to stop talking about the need for art and healing and do something about it . The result was the award-winning Side by Side module, and for the third time in as many years, the fruits of their labors will be see Friday when the exhibition opens at the Downtown Arts Center. (Note: You can also see Leslie Beatty in Actors Guild of Lexington's command performance of Bad Dates there :)
Bolstered by the belief that we can improve the lives of those who are marginalized in today's society by physical illness by introducing art + healthcare initiatives, Kouns and Mason worked with Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital and went forward with their objectives by introducing Side by Side and sponsor Lexington Art League. The exhibit will feature 30 pieces of art, including one piece created by each child during the six-week course, the collaborative pieces, and one work by each participating professional artist. Last year, all 30 works were exhibited together -- “Side by Side” -- to stand as testimony to the shared joy of discovery and inclusion, not to mention fun, generated by the program’s curriculum.
Kouns advises that with this program, which was generously funded by VSA arts of Kentucky, “the goal is not only to impact the lives of ten children, but also to inspire local artists to become involved with the organization. As more programs like those at Cardinal Hill begin to explore art as a means of therapy, self-awareness and growth, the need for local artists who are trained to work in these types of environments will grow.”
Through creative art-making, constituents take the lead on projects ranging from traditional artwork like portraiture to more experimental media such as modeling compound, used to create textured landscape paintings. This leadership allows for constituents to both make and execute creative decisions, engaging higher functioning areas of the brain involved in the decision-making process. Translating these decisions into reality, the process of execution enables the constituents to encounter and creatively solve problems. Various art forms art forms and mediums are used such as painting, sculpting, mosaic, and collage along with visualization techniques. During the process of making a work of art, the constituents receive the benefit of exercising parts of the brain needed for successful everyday living. “
Kouns explains how Side by Side was formed when, “in the fall of 2004, my best friend's girlfriend, Diane Mason, and I were having coffee at Starbuck's. I had just been asked to sit on the board of directors of the Lexington Art League. I was talking about how I wanted to start a significant arts outreach program, and Diane had asked me if I was interested in sponsoring an arts day camp at Cardinal Hill. She started telling me a little bit about the program, and asked me if I would like to come over to Cardinal Hill and see what they were doing. I replied, 'Of course!', and ended up spending a great deal of time there--asking questions, researching documented benefits from a medical perspective, and launching a fairly exhaustive literature search. It appealed to my sense of reason that this program had potential. I started contacting people in the disabilities community, and we quickly realized that there was very little available in the arts for children in Lexington with developmental disabilities. There were some pretty impressive opportunities available for intellectually gifted children over at the Governor's School for the Arts, but nothing anywhere near that for the segment of the population we were dealing with. In fact, there was nothing at all available. Quite frankly, it stunned us.”
Rep. Kelly Flood is indeed an enthusiastic supporter and was a welcome face when I dropped by Cardinal Hill back in April to observe students and artists working on their collaborative art. Flood noted, "We know that creativity is essential to living a life of meaning. When I learned that Kentucky has the third highest incidence of children and young adults (ages 5-20) in the United States with diagnosed disabilities; and that Kentucky currently has no monies dedicated to art programs for these kids, I decided to act for change. Working with Dr. Nick Kouns, I am seeking funds for equal access to the arts for young people who live with disabilities -- funds that will facilitate collaboration between the arts community, local healthcare institutions and civic organizations across the Commonwealth so all Kentucky's children will know the hope, beauty, and freedom of expression found in the arts."
Nick adds, "At the end of the day, this effort is the most personally meaningful project I've ever had the great fortune of being involved with. Kentucky ranks number 3 in the country, with the third highest incidence of children and young adults ages 5-20, with disabilities, with an incidence rate of 9.6%. "
"Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable." -- George Bernard Shaw
Mary Claire O'Neal, Program Director for VSA arts of Kentucky [Exceptional Children Services] agrees. "With the Lexington Side by Side, we have a teaching artist doing studio classes with the kids in addition to their physical therapists also being a part of the program at Cardinal Hill. The Cardinal Hill therapists being on hand is a unique component. The collaborative artists from the community (who do a one-on-one or Side by Side collaborative piece) with a student from the studio class is a component that we have at other Side by Side locations around the state. What art does for the children in our programs is help open them up to expressing themselves in a creative way, which has such a positive and healing effect in the perspective of the one who is experiencing that creative expression. In my many years of observing, hearing anecdotal evidence, and reviewing evaluations from staff working with the participants in our programs, that shift has a very noticeable effect. As an example, a participant who may have been very closed down (not interacting much with his/her environment or others) may, through the course of the program, not only begin interacting with others but also start appearing more energetic and positive. That change is very meaningful and significant in the life of that participant and his/her family."
Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital
Trish Roberts Hatler is the Development Coordinator for Cardinal Hill and is enthusiastic about this year's Side by Side program. Hatler advises that therapists suggest which children they believe would benefit from the introduction of art into their healthcare efforts. "We currently keep an ongoing list of pediatric patients that might be interested in being part of the Side by Side program, which is a supplemental opportunity to their therapy."
Hatler explains the background further, stating, "During Side X Side classes, Cardinal Hill therapists work with the children to ensure the learning environment meets their individualized needs. Adaptations for tasks are incorporated into the curriculum. Under the guidance of art instructors and clinicians, they are encouraged to unlease the artist within."
"Based on their experiences in the program, the children gain newfound or expanded artistic talent, an increased ability to function in social or group situations (socialization), and increased self esteem and boosted confidence. The Side by Side program is important to our patients, our staff and as a model of art in healthcare, the citizens of the Commonwealth."
UK Healthcare
Michael Karpf, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, states, "the leadership of UK HealthCare is committed to supporting the vision for the University of Kentucky to become a top 20 public research university. UK HealthCare, the clinical enterprise of the University of Kentucky, supports that vision by aspiring to become a top 20 academic medical center. Through the leadership of UK's physician faculty and dedicated staff we are committed to being the leading provider of advanced specialty care in the region and to being Kentucky's health information resource." Dr. Karpf confirms that The UK Arts in HealthCare program has been actively developing for several years in anticipation of the opening of the new UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital.
According to Dr. Karpf, the affirmative impact from combining art therapy with conventional medical treatment is that “Health care is a complex process for many people who are often times under emotional stress. The arts offer comfort to people and provide a distraction from those stressful situations. We hope people will want to come to our facilities to see the art so they know us and feel comfortable with us before they ever have to visit in their time of need.
“There are many wonderful arts programs in health care settings throughout the country. We believe our program, through the support of the community will bring something uniquely Kentucky to the world class hospital we are building for the Commonwealth.”
What events could transpire that would make this effort run more smoothly or enable others throughout Kentucky to benefit from the introduction of artistic expression in their lives? “An important factor in the success of our developing program has been the partnerships we have built with those throughout Kentucky that share our vision of the role of art in improving lives. The most significant example of that for us is our partnership with the Kentucky Folk Art Center in Morehead, Kentucky. They have been instrumental in guiding us in developing our collection of the works of some of Kentucky’s most talented craft artists. Another critical success factor for our program is the financial support we have received through private donations, and we are deeply indebted to those individuals and their generosity.”
He explains further, “Research studies into the ways in which arts can improve quality outcomes and reduce costs are ongoing. There is preliminary data that it improves attitude and decreases the patient’s length of stay. We expect that our patients, staff and students will experience all the benefits the arts can offer in a health care environment.”
Plans for UK Healthcare’s ventures in arts in healing revolve around the opening of the new facility. “Currently, there are three significant pieces under commission for the new UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital set to open in 2011. There is a 38-foot-tall stainless steel and fabric mesh sculpture that will hang in the atrium within a two-and-a-half- story skylight. A 90-foot wall along the upper level of the atrium will Celebrate Kentucky through a multimedia installation of photography presenting the places, people and landscapes of Kentucky. And finally, the Myra Leigh Tobin Chapel will be composed of art glass designed by British artist John Reyntiens depicting springtime in Kentucky.”
“In addition to these three commissions, the new hospital will also house an unparalleled education and performing arts auditorium. The W. Paul and Lucille Caudill Little Foundation is an early partner in establishing a performing arts in health care program and bringing music therapy to patients—a collaboration between the UK School of Music and UK HealthCare.”
“And nearby in the new hospital, a unique collection of Kentucky folk art will be on display in the Health Education Center. This collection will be on display at the UK Art Museum this summer from July 11 through September 20.
We are also pleased to partner with the Lexington Art League to display a number of selections from their Paint Present show in the new UK HealthCare Kentucky Neurosciences Institute opening in June 2009.
Aging Through a Physician’s Lens, the photographic art of Dr. Jeffrey M. Levine, will be on display in July and August 2009 in the North Lobby of the UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital. Dr. Levine will hold a grand rounds lecture “Humanism, Geriatrics, and Art” on August 25, 2009 at 6pm in the President’s Room of the Singletary Center for the Arts.
For more information about exhibits and events associated with the UK Arts in HealthCare program, people may visit www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu .
Karpf states that there are a number of individuals within the Lexington community that have been instrumental to the initiation and development of our program, “including Ms. Donna Hall and Ms. Carol Farmer who serve as co-chairs of our UK HealthCare Art Committee. We have been pleased to have the guidance of the Society for Arts in HealthCare (www.thesah.org ), Ms. Elaine Sims of the University of Michigan and Ms. Donna Glassford of Vanderbilt University. Additionally, Ms. Jackie Hamilton has led the team of UK HealthCare staff who have helped make the vision of the Art Committee a reality."
Arts in Health Care Committee members:
Mira Ball, Antony R. Beck, Hilary J. Boone, Jim Clark, Murray Clark, Arlene Cohen, Carol Farmer, Jim Gray, Donna Hall, Jacqueline Hamilton, Courtney Higdon, John G. Irvin, Ellen Karpf, Michael Karpf, Michael Kennedy, Sheila David, Donna Glassford, Susan Goldstein, Everett McCorvey, Dan Miesle, Victoria Myers, Katie O’Brien, Arturo Alonzo Sandoval, Robert Shay, Myra Leigh Tobin, Kathy Walsh-Piper, Barbara Smith Young.
"Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere." -- G.K. Chesterton
Debbie Pennell, Vice President for Customer Services at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts explains how the Center became active in arts and healing. "The Center began researching Arts in Healthcare issues approximately two years ago, and I was involved in that small task group of staff. " She believes there is a positive impact from the concept of combining art therapy with conventional medical treatment. "We anticipate positive impact in a variety of areas, including improved quality of patient care and outcomes; increased staff satisfaction and retention, savings in healthcare dollars (shortened hospital stays, reduced pain medications) and strengthened public perception of the healthcare facilities. However, we want to carefully distinguish a difference between "arts in healing" and art therapy. While art therapists' work with patients using established modalities designed to move the patient toward anticipated outcomes, artists working in an art in healing program will provide the opportunity for a diversion from the medical environment, designed to allow the patient a creative experience to help promote a positive thought process. The activities can work in concert to achieve the common goal of healing. "
When asked how these programs can be implemented throughout the state, Pennell states, “In many communities, successful programs already exist. We believe that the Center’s Arts in Healing program which is being developed in Louisville will provide a model that can be replicated in other communities across Kentucky.”
These efforts might also enable others throughout Kentucky to benefit from the introduction of artistic expression in their lives. Pennell explains, “We are currently moving into the pilot phase of this new program, and are confident that local healthcare facilities are interested in partnering with us to make those pilots successful. Louisville is home to some of the most progressive hospitals in the nation and they have shown an interest in embracing Arts in Healing in several innovative and forward thinking ways.”
Pennell notes that The Humana Foundation was supportive with a transformational grant which made it possible for the Center to host two nationally known presenters in Arts and Healing in Louisville earlier this spring. “Jill Sonke spoke to a group of hospital administrators, nurses, counselors, therapists and arts professionals about her work spanning 20 years as Director, Center for the Arts in Healthcare, University of Florida Arts in Medicine, Shands Hospital . And Robert Bluestone internationally recognized classical guitarist and arts in healing practitioner, provided a three day Artist in Residency experience for several local hospitals, working with patients and staff alike. We are grateful for that opportunity to expand awareness of this emerging field."
Bill Santen
Combining art therapy with conventional medical treatment has a positive impact that is apparent to artists like Bill Santen. “When I was a student at UK, I had the opportunity to make art with the patients in the Kentucky Children’s Hospital through a student organization called Kreative Catz. Our immediate impact was providing a much needed distraction for parents, brothers and sisters, as well as patients. In addition to providing creative and educational entertainment, making art is a way for kids to regain some of the control that they lose when trapped in a hospital bed. As a volunteer, I always had a captive audience, which meant 15-20 minutes to convince the children that art will save the world.”Asked if there are any important 'rules' to remember as an artist when working with those who are struggling to become well, or who are recovering from trauma and/or surgery, he replies, “The only rule is that children should have ultimate control of how and what they wish to create. Often this is difficult with parents hovering in the hospital room.”Santen is proud to be affiliated with Kreative Catz, a division of Child Life in the Kentucky Children’s Hospital. “I worked on the in-patient floor and in the oncology clinic. Working in the clinic is great because you are able to see many of the same patients on a regular basis. Erin Mcanallen started Kreative Catz when she was a student in UK’s College of Fine Arts. She is now a full time employee at the Kentucky Children’s Hospital and always welcomes volunteers.”
He is also grateful for those who have given their support to his artistic endeavors. “Recently, I received a generous commission from the Kentucky Children’s Hospital for a 25’ relief sculpture. The project has been very exciting and impossible without the help and support of Erin Mcanallen, Judy Martin, Loralyn Cecil, Rachel and Brad Riley, and of course the KCH Art Committee. "
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the edited version of this article may be found on http://www.aceweekly.com/
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