Brattleboro's hospital and art museum team up in 'Art for the Heart'

Beginning September 18, patients and visitors to the new cardiology suite at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) will have an opportunity to view some of the region's finest artwork, thanks to "Art for the Heart," a new collaboration between the hospital and the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC). Conceived by cardiologist Dr. Mark Burke, an avid photographer and trustee of the Vermont Arts Council, "Art for the Heart" will showcase work by artists from the tri-state region surrounding Brattleboro, Vermont, in six-month exhibits on the walls of the cardiology suite. The exhibits will be organized by staff of the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.
According to Burke, "BMAC is the cornerstone of art in our diverse arts community, and BMH is the cornerstone of health, so this seems like a natural fit. The art that will be gracing our walls will add a welcoming and calming dimension to our office. That it will by high-quality artwork created by some of the region's most well-known artists is an added bonus. Further, any opportunity to bring art to a broad swath of people who might not otherwise be exposed to it is an affirmative event."
BMAC Chief Curator Mara Williams will oversee the project from an artistic standpoint, with exhibits to be curated by Williams, her colleagues at BMAC, and guest curators. "This project will serve two incredibly valuable purposes," said Williams. "It will afford cardiology patients and their loved ones an opportunity to reduce anxiety and stress by contemplating objects of beauty. In addition, it will provide exposure for some of the many highly accomplished, talented, and thoughtful artists living and working in our region."
The inaugural "Art for the Heart" exhibit is titled "A Sense of Place: Views from the Region" and includes landscapes and streetscapes by artists Eric Aho, Tim Allen, Carolyn DiNicola-Fawley, Jim Giddings, Charlie Hunter, Julia Jensen, Paul Stone, Lydia Thomson, Christine Triebert, and Jim Urbaska. An opening reception, free and open to the general public, is scheduled for Wednesday, September 18 at 5:30 p.m. The artwork in the exhibit will be available for sale, with proceeds shared by the artists, the hospital, and the museum. Pricing and information about how to purchase the exhibited artwork is available at the BMH cardiology suite, at www.brattleboromuseum.org/exhibits/art-for-the-heart/, or by calling 802-257-0124, ext. 101.
According to Williams, "A Sense of Place: Views from the Region" will be up for approximately six months. Subsequent exhibits will focus on only one or two artists each. Artists wishing to be considered for exhibition should submit an application online at www.brattleboromuseum.org/exhibits/art-for-the-heart/.
Dr. Rebecca Jones, a Brattleboro dermatologist who serves on the BMAC board, applauds this new collaboration between Brattleboro's art museum and hospital. "After all," she says, "art and creativity are at the heart of health and well being."
Founded in 1972, the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center presents rotating exhibits of contemporary art, complemented by lectures, artist talks, film screenings, and other public programs. The museum’s exhibits and gift shop are open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11-5; Friday: 11-7;Saturday: 10-5. Regular admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for students. Members and children under 6 are admitted free of charge. Located in historic Union Station in downtown Brattleboro, at the intersection of Main Street and Routes 119 and 142, the museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information call 802-257-0124 or visit www.brattleboromuseum.org.
Major support for BMAC is provided by its members and Entergy Vermont Yankee, Foard Panel, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, People’s United Bank, Brattleboro Ford Subaru, and Whetstone Station Restaurant & Brewery.