Take a Break From Burnout

For many years Mary Rockwood Lane and Michael Samuels, M.D. have taught art and healing courses at undergraduate and graduate level. For years they have watched as their students undergo major life transformations and healing as they heal themselves from sexual abuse, unresolved grieving, illnesses as well as heal family members, relationships, community and the earth.

This course will now be delivered as a free online 6-week program — offered by Mary Rockwood Lane via the University of Florida.

This is new concept in education. By making art, a caring, loving community is formed and students can share and heal deeply personal and deeply important things that may have never been addressed in their lives. It is such a new experience; online education without judgment, in a loving, caring, sacred space. It is a new kind of university online distance education, using art (visual arts, music, dance and word) to heal yourself, others, community and the earth.

REGISTER NOW

The 6-week online program will use teachings, guided imagery exercises and art projects to help you heal whatever needs to be healed in your life. With art, you can heal your darkness or the darkness of our world.

Everyone can use this program: to heal yourself, to use with an artist-healer in a program, or as part of art therapy with a trained art therapist. If you already consider yourself an artist or healer, we’ll show you how to go deeper into your creativity or healing with personal introspection on emotional, intellectual, and spiritual levels with a mind to show you how the two worlds are naturally linked and how the artist can be the voice and hands of the healer within.

We are delighted to announce a unique virtual course, Training Our Eyes, Minds, and Hearts: Visual Thinking Strategies for Health Care Professionals, offered through Harvard Medical School for CME credit. This course strengthens humanistic and analytic competencies and can transform medical education, patient care, teamwork, equity, and professional growth. It is the first to offer longitudinal, in-depth training and coaching in the arts-based facilitation method, Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), and is designed specifically to improve health professions education, clinical outcomes, and leader and team dynamics within healthcare.

You will achieve proficiency in VTS facilitation applied to healthcare, including:
-Deepening skills in observation, active listening, paraphrasing, suspending judgment, sustaining inquiry, and creating psychological safety;
-Applying these skills to communicate, collaborate, teach, and lead more effectively within clinical workflow and be equipped to support your colleagues to do the same;
-Designing and leading arts-based sessions at your institutions to meet your local organizational and curricular needs;
-Developing a detailed action plan for your ongoing integration of VTS techniques and mindsets.
-Cultivating partnerships and friendships with like-minded colleagues throughout the world.
Luminary guest speakers include Dr. Kamna Balhara; Dr. Neal Baer; Cheryl Giscombe, RN, PhD; and Dr. Meg Chisolm.
Course directors are Dr. Joel Katz; Corinne Zimmermann, MA, MEd and Dabney Hailey, MA.

This highly interactive course will be facilitated on Tuesdays, 11am – 2pm EST, on the following dates:
September 24: Introduction to Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)
October 8: VTS & Clinical Practice
October 22:Thinking
November 5; Empathic Communication
November 19: Teams
December 3: Anti-Racism Education
December 17: Conversations Across Differences
January 7, 2025: Creating Partnerships with Museums
January 21, 2025: Facilitative Leadership
Feb 4. 2025: Well-being
Feb 18, 2025: Bringing it all Together

Further information and registration.

Please email Corinne Zimmerman with any questions.

Small Objects, Big Stories: Legacy Artist Curates Healing and Connection through “Show & Tales”

Think back to your childhood school days of show and tell—what are you holding? What is it story? Standing in front of your class with a favorite toy, seashell, or souvenir and sharing the story behind it revealed a piece of yourself and connected you with your classmates.

As adults, the need to connect with people and share our stories remains strong. By design, carefully curating objects through object-based storytelling has long been a popular way for museums and historians to co-create experiences while telling vast histories. Story-based object curation is also a healing tool for healthcare workers, business leaders and those seeking to connect people to reduce isolation and loneliness while bridging cultural divides. In narrative practice parlance, a “third object” is an external item—such as a work of art, a poem, a photograph, a video, or an excerpt from literature—that serves as a focal point for discussion, reflection, and connection among participants.

Martie McNabb is a personal historian and visual artist who believes small objects have the power to unlock larger, universal experiences like love, loss, and growth and help us realize we’re more alike than different, regardless of cultural backgrounds or life experiences. She ascribes to the practice that the relationship between the possessions we value and the narratives behind them is unmistakable; objects gain value and meaning when a story is added.

“Storytelling is not a matter of words,” she says. “Indeed, words are only one particular – and arguably small – part of the story world. That images can tell stories is universally accepted, and we do not need to translate such stories into words in order to understand them.

Things that Matter

Martie says she considers herself a “legacy artist using other people’s stuff’ as my medium.” She’s a lover of stories that get attached to these things.

“I’m also a dancer, a wife, a daughter, a sister and a lover of people and travel,” she says. She lives part-time in her campervan named Brooklyn, a nod to the borough in NYC where she lived for 28 years. Martie’s career path includes being a former NYC public high school biology teacher and an ASL interpreter.

“I’m passionate about building deeper connections, community and legacy through story-sharing gatherings about the things that matter,” says Martie, who divides her time between Hartland, Vermont (where she and her mother live) and Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she lives with her wife.

Through her workshop business, Thingtide Show & Tale® , Martie invites participants to bring objects to elicit their own stories. She believes listening to and sharing stories can help individuals feel less isolated and more understood, which is crucial for emotional healing. In her podcast, Things That Matter with Martie McNabb, she invites guests to share the stories behind their cherished objects. Each episode delves into personal narratives that highlight the significance of seemingly ordinary items.

One Story at a Time

“Objects are images, but much more than that, they are sensuous things touching us with their affective power, imbued with an aura of the unspeakable.” — Martie McNabb

During her workshops, participants bring photos and cherished objects to in-person and virtual story-sharing gatherings. The themes range from the personal items and keepsakes of loved ones who have died to personal collections, letters, thank you notes, pets, tats and piercings, bags, and hats. The potential theme for a “Show & Tales” event sponsored by a corporation, non-profit, association, institution, organization, or individual is limited only by the imagination.

Many corporations and other organizations have found that the pandemic—and working remotely—has significantly impacted people’s feelings of connection and employee and donor engagement. Martie offers a solution: “Storytelling is more than words,” she says, quoting the following:

“Objects are images, but much more than that, they are sensuous things touching us with their affective power, imbued with an aura of the unspeakable. They may provide hard forensic evidence or fleeting feelings that are difficult to grasp, but without things there can’t be any stories. What matters is not so much the voice, but the listening, the ability to perceive, to sense, to tune in, to feel, to dream. Everything and everybody has a story to tell, if only we can hear it. Artists, seers and poets can be useful guides,” she adds. This is a piece of prose by Solveigh Goett, textile artist, researcher and collector.

Finding a Name for What She Does

More than 25 years ago, she joined the Association of Personal Historians, a professional organization primarily serving memoir writers, oral historians and video biographers. “For all those years, I had to explain myself and my work to them. I finally found a title that resonated; Legacy Artist,” she adds.

Creating a Roadmap for Her Own Story

“The things that became dear to me were relationships, experiences, and the power of a story” – Martie McNabb

When she’s not hosting story-sharing gatherings, Martie travels 2,200 miles across the country as a caregiver for her mom and her mother-in-law. In her 60s, she’s also navigating a long-distance marriage to the love of her life who she met more than 30 years ago and reconnected with during the COVID pandemic.

Born in a military family in Okinawa, Japan, Martie moved nine times before turning sixteen.

“As a result, I did not collect familiar childhood objects like art projects and toys. The things that became dear to me were relationships, experiences, and the power of a story,” she says. “Haunted by the photos and memorabilia people leave behind, I began hosting object-inspired story-sharing events called Show & Tales to encourage participants to reveal a little piece of their personal history through the Things they keep. Sharing out loud with others keeps the memories alive, passes on the history, and enables people from all walks of life to build connections.”

She adds: “I want to change the way we look at our Things. Things may not matter, but the stories that get attached to them often do. Instead of focusing on what we need to get rid of, let’s focus on what we want to keep. The Things you surround yourself with tell a piece of your life story. “

Narrative Mindworks Questionnaire

• What is your idea of perfect happiness?
  • Perfect happiness to me is that feeling I get when I am doing the work I was born to do.
• What’s next on your bucket list?
  • Creating multi-author art and story books called “Things That Matter” using my 26 different themes. Bringing my “Our Team in 30 Things” story-sharing exhibition and gathering to companies and organizations to build deeper connections, community, and legacy. And changing the mainstream narrative around what “legacy” means!
• My greatest accomplishment?
  • Staying on my entrepreneurial path, believing in myself and my work. AND always supporting and cheering on my family, friends, and community!

Story submitted by Brian Martin from Narrative Mindworks.

Submitted by Kathy Sullivan:

Ashes2Art Program is a nonprofit that provides creative services for emergency services personnel as a preventative wellness initiative. WE are working through Zoom currently with a specific format that has been great. Due to our growing demand we relooking for artists to teach our men and women drawing, painting, and possibly sculpting. Since we are a non profit money is tight but probably will probably improve soon. This initiative has had great success and plans to expand significantly. We will be interviewing and gathering a list of people for our expansion. Please reach out if you fit the description of being humorous, open, energetic, and responsible. THANKS!

Deadline: September 25, 2020… for now

Website: www.ashes2art.org (launching mid-august!!)

Email Kathy Sullivan: kathy@kathysullivanart.com

The International Journal of Music, Health, and Wellbeing (https://www.musichealthandwellbeing.co.uk/) is double-blind peer-reviewed journal that publishes articles covering a broad range of disciplines and subject areas, including Health and Social Care, Education and Creativity, Therapeutic Arts (such as Music Therapy), Arts and/for Health, Creative Health, Health Humanities, Social Sciences & Public Health perspectives of Music (including Cultural, Social, and Medical Anthropology, Ethnomusicology, Music Sociology, Music Psychology, and Music & Neuroscience), practices in Composition, Performance, Improvisation, & Listening, and Community Music.

We are currently seeking reviewers for research articles in the above areas. Interested members can send a brief note of interest, including area(s) of specialization, to Dr. Ryan Weber, editor, at rrweber@geisinger.edu

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The Momentary (CBMO) seek a strategic and collaborative leader to oversee their arts in medicine and wellbeing portfolio. This role encompasses arts integration and medical education partnerships with the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) and peer institutions, arts programming in clinical and caregiver healthcare settings, and public-facing art-and-wellbeing initiatives across campus.

The Director will strengthen CBMO’s contribution to the evolving field of arts in medicine and wellbeing through strong partnerships, evidence-informed practice, and excellent program execution. The role is accountable for program quality, outcomes, and visibility within this portfolio—ensuring work is well-managed, aligned with divisional and institutional priorities, and supported by clear evaluation and continuous learning.

In addition, the Director will help identify and advance portfolio-level earned-income opportunities in partnership with the Chief Learning and Engagement Officer and internal partners, including ticketed wellness experiences, professional learning offerings, and sponsored or fee-for-service partnership models aligned to divisional priorities.

This position reports to the Chief Learning and Engagement Officer and supervises the Director of Arts in Medicine (AWSOM curriculum integration) and a Museum Educator supporting arts-and-wellbeing initiatives. Additional project-based staff and contractors may support this work. The Director serves as a member of the Learning & Engagement leadership team alongside other department heads.

Click here for more information and to apply.

New Program Will Fund Research into Music’s Effects on the Brain

NORTH BETHESDA, Md., July 1, 2026—The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) today launches the Music as Medicine Neuroscience Research Initiative, in partnership with the Renée Fleming Foundation, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, and Jim Weiss of Real Chemistry, to support outstanding scientists examining the connections between neuroscience and music. The grants, of $100,000 each, will fund research into music-based therapies with potential to advance the health and well-being of people living with conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke and depression.

“Music, rhythm and movement have powerful psychological and emotional resonance for people,” said Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH, President and CEO of FNIH. “This program will deepen the scientific understanding of how music and music therapy can affect the brain and be leveraged to improve patient care.”

The research grants will fund scientists with innovative proposals in the following areas:

• Basic research to explore the underlying biological or neurological mechanisms through which music influences human health and well-being
• Clinical research to investigate how to develop, test, optimize or personalize music or music-based interventions to improve health, cognitive function, mental health and quality of life
• Research examining strategies to integrate, scale and make accessible music-based interventions within healthcare and community settings

“Emerging research continues to demonstrate that music can meaningfully improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions that affect memory, movement and emotional well-being,” said Assal Habibi, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Southern California and chair of the Music as Medicine Scientific Selection Committee. “These grants will help advance an exciting new generation of interdisciplinary researchers working at the intersection of music, neuroscience and medicine.”

The initiative was established in collaboration with Renée Fleming, acclaimed soprano and arts advocate; Mickey Hart; and Jim Weiss, founder of Real Chemistry and member of the FNIH Board of Directors. Additional support has been provided by Paul Sekhri, biotech CEO and investor. Music as Medicine builds on work commenced by the former Sound Health partnership, which included the National Institutes of Health, the National Endowment for the Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Renée Fleming Foundation and FNIH.

The Music as Medicine Neuroscience Research Initiative is the latest addition to a growing FNIH neuroscience portfolio, including the Deeda Blair Research Initiative for Disorders of the Brain; the Accelerating Medicines Partnerships® for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and ALS; Biomarkers Consortium projects focused on Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal degeneration; and an upcoming project on major depressive disorder.

Nominations open today and will be accepted through Friday, July 31, 2026, at 5 p.m. EDT. The scientific committee chaired by Dr. Habibi will review applications and select grant recipients in late fall. Learn more about the program, including how to submit nominations and donate to support, at fnih.org/musicnomination and listen to a conversation with Renée Fleming and Jim Weiss about the program.

About the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
FNIH builds public-private partnerships that connect leading biomedical scientists at the National Institutes of Health, life sciences companies, foundations, academia and regulatory agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency. Through team science, we solve complex health challenges and accelerate breakthroughs for patients, regardless of who they are or what health challenges they face. FNIH accelerates new therapies, diagnostics and potential cures; advances global health; and helps train the next generations of scientists. Established by Congress to support the mission of NIH, FNIH is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit fnih.org.

https://fnih.org/press-release/fnih-renee-fleming-mickey-hart-and-jim-weiss-launch-neuroscience-initiative-music-as-medicine/

Sloka Iyengar, PhD has published her work on the use of hastas (hand gestures) in the traditional Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam for creative aging. This paper came out in the Journal of Medical Humanities!

You can access the full-text of the paper here.

Tampa’s Gasparilla Festival of the Arts features Board Member Miriam Zimms through their “Stories of the Arts Changing People’s Life BIG.”

Arts programs “roared” Miriam during her battles with cancer, tapping into hidden creative talent and changing her life. Challenges bring opportunities. It’s a cliche that says a lot yet can’t truly convey the enormity of challenges Miriam faced while battling cancer and the pure joy she found in the artistic opportunities that grew out of that experience.

“The arts became the outlet to tell my story, to express emotions and feelings, and to create. I really had no other options but physical therapy and the healing arts every day for two years through Moffitt Cancer Center’s Arts in Medicine Studio. I needed more than to just survive. I needed the healing power of the arts.'”

Read the the full story here.

 George Family Center for Healing Arts ArtWise Rx: Arts Prescription Program 

Position: Care Coordinator Location: Rowan University/Hybrid Schedule: Part-Time, Flexible Hours 

Position Overview: The George Family Center for Healing Arts at Rowan University is seeking a compassionate and organized Care Coordinator to support the implementation and growth of ArtWise Rx, our arts prescribing program. This role involves working with both Rowan University students and Rowan Medicine patients to connect them with art activities in our community to enhance health and wellbeing 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Serve as the point of contact for students and patients referred to the ArtWise Rxprogram.
• Facilitate intake and follow-up communications to ensure supportive, personalizedreferrals to artistic and cultural experiences.
• Maintain an updated directory of arts programming and resources across RowanUniversity and in the wider South Jersey community.
• Collaborate with university staff, healthcare providers, and artists to ensure smoothimplementation of prescribed arts engagement.
• Track participation and outcomes, and gather participant feedback to improve theprogram.
• Assist in organizing and promoting arts events related to ArtWise Rx.
• Support the George Family Center for Healing Arts in fostering a creative and healingculture throughout campus and clinical spaces.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications:

• Experience in arts in health, community engagement, or student support services.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a caring and inclusive approach.
• Familiarity with arts-based interventions and an understanding of the power of creativity to support mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
• Ability to work independently, stay organized, and collaborate across diverse teams.
• Comfort working in both clinical and campus settings, with sensitivity to confidentiality and ethical considerations.

Required Credentials: 

• High School Diploma/GED required
• Minimum one year of experience in a related field such as healthcare, community outreach, or arts programming.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel, data entry, and email communication.

Application Process: To apply, please submit the following materials to yacoe@rowan.edu with the subject line: “Care Coordinator Application – ArtWise Rx” 

• A brief cover letter outlining your interest in the role and your alignment with the mission of the George Family Center for Healing Arts.
• Resume detailing relevant experience.

Application Deadline: This position will remain open until filled. We encourage interested applicants to apply early. 

We look forward to welcoming a dedicated, compassionate care coordinator who believes in the power of the arts to connect, heal, and transform lives.