The art of well being

Starting today, the local arts community is teaming up with Southeast Missouri Hospital to make things a little less stressful for hospital patients and their loved ones with the Art for the Health of It exhibit.

This is the 12th year for the exhibit, which hangs in the hospital's first-floor surgical waiting room corridor and opens today with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

The program's goal is healing through art, as the name implies.

The healing power of art is something humans have long been aware of, said Sally Owen, a member of Southeast Missouri Hospital's marketing department.

A variety of media will be featured, including watercolors, acrylics, pencil drawings, graphic design and photography. They cover a variety of artistic themes and styles. The exhibit is juried, and 55 pieces from 35 artists made the cut.

"It's really going to be a wonderful show this year," said Margaret Dement with the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. "The works in the show are excellent."

The placement of the art is meant to help people under high levels of stress.

"It hangs just outside the surgical waiting room on the first floor, so it's really a nice mind break for the folks who are in the surgical waiting room, waiting on one of their family members or friends to undergo surgery," said Owen.

Art for a purpose

Tom Neumeyer, owner of Neumeyer Photography in Cape Girardeau, is one of the artists in the exhibit with his portrait of a calla lily. This will be his first time being featured in the show.

"I've been in the waiting room many times myself with family members and anything helps, if it takes your mind off it for just a second," Neumeyer said.

"The folks that are affected by having people in surgery, they need some healing themselves," he said. "If this helps them a little bit, it will serve its purpose."

Prizes and awards will be given out for the best pieces in the show. The prizes are being donated by the Cape Girardeau County Medical Society, Cape Girardeau County Medical Society Alliance and Southeast Missouri Hospital, said Owen.

And unlike in previous years, all the 55 works of art in the exhibit are for sale. Making money, though, is the last reason for having the exhibit, said Owen.

"It's also based on the theory that the arts can enhance the quality of life for all, and support and nourish that part of us that medicine and surgery alone can't touch," Owen said.

Art for the Health of It will be on display in the hospital until April 27.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182