News/Press Releases, GA Perimeter = College

News/Press Releases

GPC Speaker Believes art can Help Heal

09/08/2008
Contact: Roger=20 Barnes
Phone: 678-891-2693
Fax: 678-891-2966

Author: Roger Barnes

For Immediate=20 Release

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Creating art can aid in the healing process of sick and = injured=20 people, says Marti Hand, a former nurse who now creates artwork = and=20 promotes the idea of adding more creativity to traditional = healthcare=20 methods. Hand=92s work is on display at Georgia Perimeter = College=92s Cole=20 Fine Arts Gallery on the Clarkston Campus until September=20 25.

    =93Health care is based on the = medical model,=20 based on science,=94 said Hand, speaking at the Creative Nursing=20 Interventions in Healthcare lecture at GPC on August 28. =93I want = nursing=20 students to start thinking about bringing creativity into patient = care.=20 Once they graduate they can do this more and=20 more.=94

    Hand, a former registered nurse = with a=20 background in critical care nursing and healthcare management, = says there=20 is a biochemical aspect to emotions and that when patients express = themselves creatively, it advances their healing=20 process.

    =93It=92s not just about my = artwork, but=20 about making art, engaging in the creative process,=94 Hand said.=20 =93Creativity helps the mind, soul, body and emotions.=94=20

    Hand said creativity leads to a = significant=20 drop in stress levels, decreased pain and improved sleep for = patients.=20 During her lecture, Hand cited scientific studies which linked=20 neurochemical changes in the brain to outside stimuli such as art = and=20 music.

    In conjunction with her lecture, = Hand=20 also has a collection of her artwork on display at Cole = Auditorium. The=20 series is called Scientific and Medical Microscopic Landscapes and = runs=20 until September 25. Most of the paintings are of colorful and = microscopic=20 elements in nature, including illustrations of bacteria and=20 viruses.

    =93I am a painter. My work = integrates art=20 with science, nature and the medical industry,=94 Hand says. =93My = two ongoing=20 bodies of work, the Synergy Series and Beauty in the Beast Series, = incorporate art with science, nature, pharmaceuticals, x-rays, = medical=20 devices, microscopy, illness and disease,=94 Hand says. =93These = paintings=20 convey the strength of the human spirit and the impalpable = expressions of=20 hope, healing, optimism, courage, empathy, forgiveness, compassion = and=20 triumph.=94

    Creating the work, she says, = is=20 relaxing and healing to the artist. It was only natural that she = began to=20 think of how this could benefit the sick and injured, she=20 says.

    =93I am a member of the Society = for the Arts=20 in Healthcare, and an active Board Member of Women=92s Caucus for = Art of=20 Georgia,=94 she adds. =93But when you=92re a nurse you=92re always = a nurse.=94=20

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Georgia = Perimeter=20 College, the third largest institution of the University System of = Georgia, serves more than 21,500 students through four campuses = and=20 several sites in metro Atlanta. For additional information, visit=20 http://www.gpc.edu/

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Georgia Perimeter College =A9 2007-2008
A University System of Georgia=20 Institution

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