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Arts in Medicine relieves cancer patients of the pressures of their disease

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Arts in Medicine at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center

Arts in Medicine (AIM) is a unique program in operation at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center at the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. Hospitalized cancer patients have the opportunity to paint the works of Grand Masters - from Van Gogh to Clementine Hunter, from Claude Monet to Franz Marc.

The coordinating artist sketches an outline copy of a picture on canvas. This canvas is divided into twenty 12-inch grids. The grids are numbered to indicate what color goes where before volunteers take the squares and paints into patient rooms. Completed squares are combined to form the finished work, which is framed and includes a plaque that lists the names of patients who participated.

Throughout the AIM program, art coordinators found that cancer patients doing art feel less stress, and for the moment they are relieved of the pressures of their disease. This unexpected result of this project has been the quality of the finished products, as well as the joy the patients experience as they proudly point out "their" squares.

The first 18 paintings were exhibited in Shreveport at the Meadows Museum of Art on the Centenary College campus in August 2003. The September 2004 exhibit of 36 paintings was held at the Barnwell Garden and Art Center, and in 2005 more than 60 paintings were exhibited throughout the four floors of the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center outpatient treatment building at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport.

AIM is directly supported by the community and a grant from the Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC). SRAC funding comes from the City of Shreveport and a grant from the Louisiana State Council and the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, and Recreation & Tourism.

Patients who immerse themselves in the creative activity provided by AIM become more hopeful and happier. The purpose of AIM is not to fill idle hours, but to free the spirit so Feist-Weiller Cancer Center patients feel less stress.