Artistic Antidote for a Pandemic
ARTISTIC ANTIDOTE + SHARING OUR STORIES
In this uncertain, disorienting time, the arts can serve as a compass. The arts help us find direction and remind us that there is still solid ground beneath our feet and a steady horizon ahead of us. And so, those of us at the newly-formed Center for the Art of Medicine at the University of Minnesota welcome you to join us for a daily Artistic Antidote for a Pandemic.
These daily doses of poetry, prose, music, and art can be integrated into our clinical and self-care practices. In doing so, we hope they will:
Becoming a Doctor + Sharing Our Stories Artistic Antidote
On May 7th, our community celebrated with 4th year medical students as they walked across the stage, donned hoods, and officially became doctors. However, the process of becoming a doctor began long before that moment. In the brand new, first edition of "Becoming a Doctor at the University of Minnesota Medical School: An Anthology of Medical Student Stories" we catch glimpses of that journey. The anthology, published in April of 2021, is available online . The stories are all authored by U of M medical students, and the project was supported by a student editorial board and editorial advisors from the Department of Pediatrics faculty.
As Drs. A. Olson and Scheurer preface, the stories "are honest, optimistic, realistic, woeful, wondering, believing, doubting, persevering, joyful, and grieving. Said simply, they are real. They are complex and beautiful-- and deeply important. Just like the practice of medicine." We will be sharing some of our favorite stories from this anthology throughout the month of May.
SPECIAL DAILY PAUSE WITH MARCELA LORCA
We connect with Marcela Lorca, Artistic Director for the Ten Thousand Things Theater Company based out of St. Paul, MN. Her lesson in self-care is one we can all practice: dance in nature like nobody's watching.
SPECIAL DAILY PAUSE WITH RACHEL SWAN OF PIE AND MIGHTY
Many of us have been turning to the culinary arts to unwind and connect during the pandemic. For local "Pie Operating Officer" Rachel Swan, the pandemic has been a time for her to reconnect with what led her to open up Pie and Mighty in 2020: joy and love.
SPECIAL DAILY PAUSE WITH SEITU JONES
Seitu Jones is a multi-disciplinary artist and community organizer known for his large-scale public artworks and environmental design. We couldn't wait to talk with him about what has been driving him creatively over the last few months.
SPECIAL DAILY PAUSE WITH KATE DICAMILLO
We offer up a unique pause from author Kate DiCamillo, who is one of six people to win two Newbery Medals. We are lucky to have her share her words of support with us at this time when we could all use some uplifting and encouragement.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Do you have an original piece of poetry, brief prose, music or visual art that could serve as an Artistic Antidote for a Pandemic? We welcome submissions from anyone reading this blog. Please submit your piece to [email protected] for consideration and be sure to include your full name, credentials, and current role.
In addition to the daily Artistic Antidotes, we sometimes will feature longer reflections about people’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have an essay you would like to submit for consideration, please send it to [email protected]. Again, please include your name, credentials, and current role.
Our hope is to compile a portion of the poetry, prose, artwork, and essays selected as Artistic Antidotes into an anthology at some point in the future.
