VERO BEACH, Fla. – (August 16, 2007) –In recognition of November as National Hospice Month, VNA Hospice and the Vero Beach Museum of Art have partnered to create a special program to raise public awareness about hospice care. A group of local artists, selected by the Museum and working in a variety of media, were paired with VNA Hospice patients and their families for a period of four months. The artists spent time with patients and families in their homes, in bereavement support groups, and at the VNA Hospice House to learn about hospice care. Each artist then created a body of work based on their experience, and several patients created artwork of their own during the project. The result is a unique exhibit entitled "The Art of Hospice" made up of the artwork created by the artists and the hospice patients.
Marilyn Conley, director of VNA's hospice programs, says there are several goals for the project. "First and foremost, we hope to raise public awareness of the benefits of hospice care," she explains. "We also want to increase people's comfort level with the concept of hospice by encouraging people to discuss end-of-life issues and care early with their families. So many people equate hospice with death, and that's just not the case. Hospice care is intended to provide people facing life-limiting illnesses with the best quality of life possible for as long as they live."
“The Museum is both pleased and proud to be working along with the VNA on this important community project,” stated Annie Kraybill, Director of Education at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.
The artists, all Indian River County residents, were selected by the museum for their diversity of media and their ties to the community. Suzanne Fox (writer), Elizabeth Colket (painter), Geoffrey Meyers (sculptor), Betsy McKean (digital artist), Cliff Partlow (photographer), Ann Weibel (painter), Shanti Sanchez (musician), Mary Segal (mixed media artist), Marc McGuaig (flutist) and Sarah Hale (pianist), were the artists selected.
Notecards picturing art from the exhibit will be available for purchase at the VBMA Museum Store and at VNA’s Hidden Treasures resale boutique in the Miracle Mile Plaza.
For more information about this special project, please call Tracey Kendrick, 772.978.5515. For more information about VNA services, call 772.567.5551 or visit www.vnatc.com.
