Exhibition: June 19 – August 30
Exhibiting Artists: Kathryn Parker Almanas, Karen Rand Anderson, Colleen Fitzgerald, Victoria Guerina, Beth Johnston, Edward Krent, Irene Lawrence, Stephen Metcalf, Kelly Milukas, Eva Petric, Betsy Ritz, Ken Steinkamp
Art League Rhode Island, in collaboration with the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University will open the 2nd Annual CSF (“CSF”) Symposium, jointly sponsored by the Medical School and the Department of Neurosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital, on June 16, 2017, with a new juried exhibition: The Intersection of Art, Science and Medicine — featuring two-dimensional artwork that illustrates the transformative manifestations of neuro-metabolic disorders. On display will be chosen pieces of interpretive artistic renderings by individual artists.
This integrative exhibit is the vision of Petra M. Klinge, MD, PhD, Director of the Annual CSF Symposium, and the first–of-its-kind collaborative effort between ALRI and Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, together with the Department of Neurosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital. Of the exhibit, Dr. Klinge, a Rhode Island neurosurgery specialist, says “I am very excited that the Brown CSF Symposium will kick-off with a gathering of artists and medical professionals to frame and picture health problems in neurosciences. The arts exhibition will be an important step toward a new dimension in medical science, where artists will enhance the understanding and the approach to complex and challenging diseases, such as disorders of the cerebrospinal fluid.”
Dr. Klinge believes in the unique power of bridging science and art, as the artist’s renderings often capture the essence of a clinical disorder, which may inform physicians in gaining a better understanding of the patient’s perspective and experiences. The Warren Alpert Medical School was among the first in the country to explore the use of the arts in medical training through its Clinical Arts and Humanities Program, an interdisciplinary initiative that has drawn upon strong partnerships with the Rhode Island School of Design and Providence’s Trinity Playhouse. A growing number of medical schools across the country have developed such curricula, including, among others, Harvard Medical School, Yale School of Medicine and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Incorporating arts education into the curriculum enhances students’ observational skills and empathy, and recent research suggests that “empathetic engagement in patient care” can significantly improve a patient’s clinical outcome.
Echoing Klinge’s sentiment, ALRI artist, founder and juror Nancy Gaucher-Thomas says, “We have come to learn the positive impact that art has on emotions, attitudes and beliefs and the contribution it can make to greater health and wellness for the individual. The work that was selected seeks to give a better understanding and importance of what artists may offer in the multi-faceted area of healthcare with a contribution to positive outcomes.” Jurist Peter J. Snyder, PhD, states, “The works in this exhibit, together, seek to convey both the elegance and frailties of our own anatomy.” And jurist Gretchen Dow Simpson notes, “In the end the doctors and the artists were speaking the same artistic language.”
Seeking excellence in the arts, Art League Rhode Island fosters participation in and appreciation of the arts by providing opportunities for growth and encouragement of artists. In furtherance of their mission, ALRI has partnered with local art museums, RISD, Rhode Island College, The VETS Foundation, Providence Art Club, New England Foundation for the Arts, and many other artistic, educational, and philanthropic organizations.
The exhibition will be held at the Warren Alpert Medical School, 222 Richmond Street, Providence, RI, beginning June 19 through August 30, 2017. The building is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Click here for a copy of the prospectus.
You must be logged in to post a comment.