The Art of Chill: How Art Can Help, Heal, & Heat Up Our Lives

Kay Rubacek
By Kay Rubacek
November 1, 2021Life & Times
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Art is something we most often expect to find on the walls of an art gallery. Yet many in the fields of health and wellness know of art’s powerful ability to help us deal with the many challenges of life, including illness, addiction, and finding happiness.

Taking care of our mental health and the health around us has never been more important. But good health doesn’t always come out of a drug store. Sometimes we need to get creative to relax the mind, heal the body, and cool the soul.

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In a still image from a video released by NTD, Judy Perry, a retired nurse, describes the life-changing experiences she’s had in her health and happiness since she began painting rocks and bringing joy to others in her community, on May 14, 2021. (Oliver Trey/NTD)

 

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In a still image from a video released by NTD, Linda Jackson, director of Cleveland’s MetroHealth “Arts in Health” program, took NTD host Kay Rubacek on a tour of the transformations happening at the hospital, which includes a significant emphasis on art as a tool for health and healing, in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 20, 2021. (Oliver Trey/NTD)

 

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In a still image from a video released by NTD, Dan the stove man describes how he finds, fixes, and sells traditional cast iron fireplaces with ornate designs that he calls “functional works of art,” in Matamoras, Penn., on March 7, 2021. (Oliver Trey/NTD)

 

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In a still image from a video released by NTD, Dr. Deforia Lane, PhD., tells NTD host Kay Rubacek about the connections between music and medicine, in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 20, 2021. (Oliver Trey/NTD)

 

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Ceramicist Rich Lopez describes how art has helped him survive heart-wrenching domestic abuse as a child, depression and alcoholism as an adult, and finding spiritual faith and direction in his life. (credit: Mark Lentine)

Additional reporting from Mark Lentine

Deforia’s story:
YouTube footage: Credit: Deforia Lane

Rich’s story:
Making basket footage: Credit: Rich Lopez
Interview footage: Credit: Mark Lentine