Whew what a month! October 1st kicked off the month with “Saluting the Arts” program hosted by Marion Cultural Alliance at which they not only presented their grants to the winning recipients but also announced the intent of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners to create a cultural plan to be integrated into the county wide master plan. Yes, the visual and performing arts do contribute to the economic and cultural health of Marion County!

October 2nd was the opening reception for the exhibit “Healing HeART” at Brick City Center for the Arts (operated by MCA) with which I had the pleasure to help install. Presented by the Mental Wellness Coalition and The Centers, this exhibit features artwork from The Centers, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance, The Vines, and Munroe Regional Medical Center. The majority of the creations resulted from artists and art therapists working with patients and the accompanying stories were indeed moving.

Collaborative programming about the healing power of the arts continued throughout the month and included a discussion panel which addressed case studies. As a panel participant I had the opportunity to look at prominent artist throughout history with mental illness and the movements of art they inspired such as Surrealism and Art Brut.

Contiguously relate to arts and healing was an exhibit at Munroe Regional Medical Center. A lovely reception hosted by the hospital’s Foundation provided the opportunity to share the private collection of retired pediatrician and nurse Dr. John and Susan Stechschulte (pictured at left).

FAFO (Fine Arts for Ocala) once again hosted their annual art festival; bringing artist from across the country to display their works amid the unusually warm weekend of 24-25th. With the heat index well above 90 degrees staying hydrated was paramount in order to avoid health disasters!

As October comes to a close I was about to think that this “healthy dose of art” theme was about over, but no! On Halloween day I am installing yet another show for a power-packed group of women artist collaboratively known as OOHA (Out of Hands Artist). The opening reception for their exhibit will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 pm on November 6th at Brick City Center for the Arts. A portion of the proceeds from all sales will go to the H.U.G.S. Charities, Inc. of Ocala. H.U.G.S. is a non-profit organization that raises funds for the research, prevention, detection and treatment of all forms of cancer and assists individuals and families whose lives have been adversely affected by it.

Truly this month has been crazy, but the power of the arts really does make a difference in our own health and those of others.