MUSA - Alberta Pharmacy Students' Association

MUSA
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Asha Olmstead noticed the artistic talent
of a few of her classmates and suggested
a class art show. As plans progressed,
it became clear that there was interest
throughout the faculty, and the show was
expanded to include students from all four
years. The event allowed any medical or
dentistry student to showcase their artwork
for classmates, colleagues, instructors and
friends, while also supporting a local nonprofit
organization. “I thought the opening
night event was a great opportunity to
model the different ways of giving to a
community,” says Roxanne Felix, a research
consultant and assistant adjunct professor
at the University of Alberta School of
Public Health. 4
I was really impressed with the
energy and commitment brought
by the students and faculty to
this event. I think the University
needs to foster these kinds of
cross-sector and innovative events.
There is obviously a lot of interest
and passion for looking at how
health sciences and the arts interact
– now we just need to tap into
that potential! 4
Hosting the show within the context of the
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry created
a space where the realms of fine art and
health education could merge. Science and
technology are already strongly emphasized
in health education, but students who
integrate the arts into their busy schedules
must be self-motivated. 5 The Art Show
was a way to recognize this effort and
celebrate the results. In total, forty works of
visual art were displayed, including acrylic
painting, photography, sketches, sculpture,
collage, and a short film. Proceeds were
donated to the Multicultural Health Brokers
Cooperative to establish an “engagement
fund” which helps newcomers to Canada
access early learning programs and healthrelated
services for their young children. 6
The weeklong exhibit was displayed in the
John W. Scott Health Sciences Library at the
University of Alberta, where the pieces could
be viewed by students and faculty from
across campus.
The opening night event was a
great example of the “determinants
of health” in two ways. Firstly,
the event modelled that “giving”
doesn’t have to just be within the
realm of our professional skills. By
sharing our talents and our gifts,
you can generate many things
for the community – including
20
fundraising as that event did.
Secondly, the event generated
a sense of social support and
community in general among the
medical and dentistry students.
This kind of social connectedness
and gathering for a cause is so
important for all communities –
including students. It provides
a type of resiliency that is really
necessary. 4
My hope is that those students who struggle
to find space for art will continue to create.
In an environment where the function of
fine art can be questioned, it becomes even
more important to continue to support
and encourage this effort. “The linkages
between arts and the sciences have been
proven in research for years, but how to
‘live’ this can be a bit challenging in the way
that our social structures seem to be built,”
explains Felix. 4 The structure of medical and
dentistry school are especially challenging
in this regard. For Katie, the struggle to
find space for art as a medical student has
been difficult; “The only consolation I find
is knowing that [photography] will always
be there, waiting, for me to tend to the
process again.” 2
As a community it is critical that we
continue to affirm the insights and
perspectives expressed through art. “With
art, it is possible to transcend the limitations
of traditional scientific inquiry and to explore
a more human and holistic perspective,”
writes Jessie Breton, resident physician
and contributing artist at the event. 7 Those
working and studying in health sciences
possess a rich and valuable diversity of
talent and perceptiveness that unfortunately
often goes unrecognized and untapped. 8
“Arts can contribute a lot to how we
practice and achieve success in the health
sciences – how we strive to create healthy
conditions and achieve health with our
clients.” 4 For students themselves, making
art can be a powerful form of self-care; the
process can be a way of relieving stress,
learning concepts, processing emotions
and experiences, and maintaining balance.
Taking that next step of sharing our artwork
allows us to draw strength and inspiration
from one another.
Art, literature, drama and music,
in all their many forms, are
expressions of human creativity;
they reflect human joy and sorrow,
and human celebration and
reflection... They do not merely
have usefulness in contributing
to the development of ends other
than themselves: they also have an
intrinsic value in their own right. 9
With the support of the Arts & Humanities
in Health & Medicine (AHHM) Program at
the University of Alberta, 10 the Medical &
Dental Student Art Show will run again in
April, 2012. I invite you to attend this special
event and be a part of celebrating students
who find the time to make art.
The following excerpts are by students who
were featured at this year’s Art Show:
Square Tree
Katie Stringer is a medical student in the
class of 2014 at the University of Alberta.
Media: Stitched Photographs
Size: 36x34in
Artist’s Statement:
Our society has traditionally believed in
the photograph’s ability to record the truth
in a moment past. If this can still be the
case, then my unadulterated photographs
represent the history of my personal struggle
to gain control in life. For many of us there
are events in our lives that never surface to
the public or even to our closest friends. We
smile and tidy things up but somewhere in
there is a piece of chaos that goes unspoken.
On the whole, we look put-together but
on closer inspection we’re people who deal
with stress, difficult relationships, illness,
trauma and death. These trees touch upon
the power of human control, or a lack
thereof. They are my attempt to wield and
instrument against the natural and unruly
world. The imperfections in the piece are the
traces of humanity that reveal the truth in all
this: control over life is an illusion.
Mice and Men
Danny Purdy is a medical student in the
class of 2014 at the University of Alberta.
Media: Pencil Crayon
Size: 8.5x11in
Artist’s Statement:
Keeping up with one’s hobbies during
medical school is sometimes perceived as a
compromise, but is a genuinely constructive
activity that tends to produce a greater level
of satisfaction and enjoyment throughout
one’s career. The importance of ‘balance’
is emphasized so heavily during medical
training that, at times, it seems clichéd.
However, after only one year of medical
school I recognize the importance of having
a life outside of Medicine. In my case,
drawing has been a refreshing reprise from
schoolwork on many occasions. Studying so
hard without any physical manifestation of
the hours you’ve put in can be frustrating,
and studying the same subject for days
becomes tedious. Drawing allows one to be
University of Alberta Health Sciences Journal • April 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 1