Art is good for you, so you will find it all over the Chinook Regional Hospital, in the halls, in the rooms and right as you enter the atrium in a little glass display case tucked away in the corner.
Since 1989, the Chinook Regional Hospital Healing Arts program have been featuring Lethbridge and southern Albertan artists.
Bev Mazurick installed a display of smaller textiles and paintings in the case last week.
“The others are too big for it,” she said.
“We think the arts in health care are healing. And that’s mind, body and spirit,” said Lynne-Hunter Johnston, co-ordinator of the program.
The art is on display for an indefinite period of time, usually a month, according to Hunter who is always looking for new artists to feature.
She said having art at the hospital helps patients take their minds off their health issues.
“But it is not just for patients, it is for art and visitors to the hospital too,” she said.
“Art is a good distraction for patiences from their problems. It’s a good excuse to get out of their rooms and walk in the halls,” she said.
“Art helped me get through some things,” added Mazurick, who is also part of an exhibition by the Textiles Surface Design Guild in the Coaldale Public Library, June 1-July 15.
Her abstract painting “Buddhist Afterlife,” is part of a juried exhibition of work by the Alberta Society of Artists at the ASA Gallery in Lougheed House in Calgary. It opens July 15.
She recently had an exhibition in the Yates Centre and will be participating in exhibitions at the Pincher Creek Library and the Okotoks Public Gallery as well as a traveling exhibition called Trex.
None of the pieces in those exhibitions are part of the exhibition at the hospital.
“There are 12 pieces in this one. They are smaller pieces. There are a couple of landscapes and a celebration of fabric,” she said.
“There are some guidelines,” said Hunter of choosing artists for the hospital.
“We are not into angst,” she said adding they like more traditional images like landscapes and such.
“And generally they are smaller pieces. And it is not a sales exhibit. There are no price tags on them,” she continued adding adding if requested, they will put potential customers in touch with the artist.
The healing arts program doesn’t just cater to visual artists, they also bring in musicians and even clowns to entertain patients. Artists interested in participating in the Healing Arts program can contact Hunter at
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— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
