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MUSAContinued from page 17Asha Olmstead noticed the artistic talentof a few of her classmates and suggesteda class art show. As plans progressed,it became clear that there was interestthroughout the faculty, and the show wasexpanded to include students from all fouryears. The event allowed any medical ordentistry student to showcase their artworkfor classmates, colleagues, instructors andfriends, while also supporting a local nonprofitorganization. “I thought the openingnight event was a great opportunity tomodel the different ways of giving to acommunity,” says Roxanne Felix, a researchconsultant and assistant adjunct professorat the University of Alberta School ofPublic Health. 4I was really impressed with theenergy and commitment broughtby the students and faculty tothis event. I think the Universityneeds to foster these kinds ofcross-sector and innovative events.There is obviously a lot of interestand passion for looking at howhealth sciences and the arts interact– now we just need to tap intothat potential! 4Hosting the show within the context of theFaculty of Medicine and Dentistry createda space where the realms of fine art andhealth education could merge. Science andtechnology are already strongly emphasizedin health education, but students whointegrate the arts into their busy schedulesmust be self-motivated. 5 The Art Showwas a way to recognize this effort andcelebrate the results. In total, forty works ofvisual art were displayed, including acrylicpainting, photography, sketches, sculpture,collage, and a short film. Proceeds weredonated to the Multicultural Health BrokersCooperative to establish an “engagementfund” which helps newcomers to Canadaaccess early learning programs and healthrelatedservices for their young children. 6The weeklong exhibit was displayed in theJohn W. Scott Health Sciences Library at theUniversity of Alberta, where the pieces couldbe viewed by students and faculty fromacross campus.The opening night event was agreat example of the “determinantsof health” in two ways. Firstly,the event modelled that “giving”doesn’t have to just be within therealm of our professional skills. Bysharing our talents and our gifts,you can generate many thingsfor the community – includingfundraising as that event did.Secondly, the event generateda sense of social support andcommunity in general among themedical and dentistry students.This kind of social connectednessand gathering for a cause is soimportant for all communities –including students. It providesa type of resiliency that is reallynecessary. 4My hope is that those students who struggleto find space for art will continue to create.In an environment where the function offine art can be questioned, it becomes evenmore important to continue to supportand encourage this effort. “The linkagesbetween arts and the sciences have beenproven in research for years, but how to‘live’ this can be a bit challenging in the waythat our social structures seem to be built,”explains Felix. 4 The structure of medical anddentistry school are especially challengingin this regard. For Katie, the struggle tofind space for art as a medical student hasbeen difficult; “The only consolation I findis knowing that [photography] will alwaysbe there, waiting, for me to tend to theprocess again.” 2As a community it is critical that wecontinue to affirm the insights andperspectives expressed through art. “Withart, it is possible to transcend the limitationsof traditional scientific inquiry and to explorea more human and holistic perspective,”writes Jessie Breton, resident physicianand contributing artist at the event. 7 Thoseworking and studying in health sciencespossess a rich and valuable diversity oftalent and perceptiveness that unfortunatelyoften goes unrecognized and untapped. 8“Arts can contribute a lot to how wepractice and achieve success in the healthsciences – how we strive to create healthyconditions and achieve health with ourclients.” 4 For students themselves, makingart can be a powerful form of self-care; theprocess can be a way of relieving stress,learning concepts, processing emotionsand experiences, and maintaining balance.Taking that next step of sharing our artworkallows us to draw strength and inspirationfrom one another.Art, literature, drama and music,in all their many forms, areexpressions of human creativity;they reflect human joy and sorrow,and human celebration andreflection... They do not merelyhave usefulness in contributingto the development of ends otherthan themselves: they also have anintrinsic value in their own right. 9With the support of the Arts & Humanitiesin Health & Medicine (AHHM) Program atthe University of Alberta, 10 the Medical &Dental Student Art Show will run again inApril, 2012. I invite you to attend this specialevent and be a part of celebrating studentswho find the time to make art.The following excerpts are by students whowere featured at this year’s Art Show:Square TreeKatie Stringer is a medical student in theclass of 2014 at the University of Alberta.Media: Stitched PhotographsSize: 36x34inArtist’s Statement:Our society has traditionally believed inthe photograph’s ability to record the truthin a moment past. If this can still be thecase, then my unadulterated photographsrepresent the history of my personal struggleto gain control in life. For many of us thereare events in our lives that never surface tothe public or even to our closest friends. Wesmile and tidy things up but somewhere inthere is a piece of chaos that goes unspoken.On the whole, we look put-together buton closer inspection we’re people who dealwith stress, difficult relationships, illness,trauma and death. These trees touch uponthe power of human control, or a lackthereof. They are my attempt to wield andinstrument against the natural and unrulyworld. The imperfections in the piece are thetraces of humanity that reveal the truth in allthis: control over life is an illusion.Mice and MenDanny Purdy is a medical student in theclass of 2014 at the University of Alberta.Media: Pencil CrayonSize: 8.5x11inArtist’s Statement:Keeping up with one’s hobbies duringmedical school is sometimes perceived as acompromise, but is a genuinely constructiveactivity that tends to produce a greater levelof satisfaction and enjoyment throughoutone’s career. The importance of ‘balance’is emphasized so heavily during medicaltraining that, at times, it seems clichéd.However, after only one year of medicalschool I recognize the importance of havinga life outside of Medicine. In my case,drawing has been a refreshing reprise fromschoolwork on many occasions. Studying sohard without any physical manifestation ofthe hours you’ve put in can be frustrating,and studying the same subject for daysbecomes tedious. Drawing allows one to be20University of Alberta Health Sciences Journal • April 2012 • Volume 7 • Issue 1