Art That Heals

When you walk into the new ambulatory care lobby at Sechelt Hospital, the first thing that greets you is the welcoming artwork on the walls. Large, colourful canvases by Sunshine Coast artists bring calm and interest to a space that, in many hospitals, is nondescript and plain. “The artwork that graces the walls of Sechelt Hospital brings a very positive atmosphere for the patients as they wait for treatment,” says Jennifer Goodwin, a contributing artist. “Having spent some time in hospital settings this year, I can vouch for the sense of delight and positivity that art brings to patients as they wait.”

This lobby gallery is just one example of Sechelt Hospital Foundation’s Art of Healing, an initiative that brings the enriching power of art to health care at Sechelt Hospital. Kicking it up a notch, the Art of Healing’s first annual exhibit and fundraising event will debut during Art Crawl weekend, featuring thirty-six pieces generously donated by well-known Sunshine Coast artists. Each piece was specifically inspired or selected by the artists to convey the healing power of art.

Art Crawl attendees are invited to view the exhibit at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club. The fundraising event on October 20 will also centre around the artwork, hosting art collectors and supporters for a gala evening of food, mingling, and numerous prize draws that include trips to Paris and New York. Culminating in a lively draw of all thirty-six donated artworks, the event will see each piece going home with a $500 art-collector ticket-buyer. Full proceeds from the evening will go to the Hospital Foundation, directed to the areas of greatest need at the hospital.

“I’m very honoured to have my work exhibited at this event alongside many of the Coast’s most respected artists,” says Ruth Rodgers, a participating artist and event committee member. “I hope that