E140 Focus on Facets - Artistic Wellness

Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 140
Date: October 1, 2024

Participants: John Webster and Isabelle Sinclair
Guest: Karen Redman (Move That Body) and Shirley Madill (Interview)

Start Times and Segments:

[0:00:16] What’s On Your Mind: John asks Isabelle whether each year of university feels different. She shares her experiences about changes and getting to a different place.

[0:11:15] Focus on Facets: John introduces the categories of Mental Wellness (our interview last week) and Artistic Wellness (our interview this week).

[0:15:25] Expanding Minds Interview: [Artistic Wellness] Shirley Madill, Executive Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery discusses art as a rich source of wellness. What’s the impact of removing art from a community? What are the benefits of art in general, and art programs that help seniors, youth (including at risk youth), people with Alzheimers or autism?

[0:31:15] Move That Body: Karen Redman enjoys working out at home, with a mix of aerobics, weights and stretching. She also enjoys Zumba classes.

Quotes and Take-Aways:

Shirley – Some of the studies have found that when art has been removed from a community, there has been a substantial increased use of mental health services.

Shirley – Studies have shown that (through the visual arts) there’s alleviation of isolation, a boost in self-confidence and reductions in fear and anxiety. Social networks are improved when you’re at a gallery with a social group.

Shirley – There’s also more compassion and understanding interculturally that comes about through the visual arts.

Shirley – The more that you bring art into your daily life, the more you’re going to reap those benefits.

Shirley – You’d be surprised what the art experience can do for youth at risk in terms of getting that messaging our or expressing themselves where they can’t do it verbally.

Guest Information: In addition to being Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery’s Executive Director, Shirley Madill held previous positions in other art museums in other Canadian cities – Winnipeg, Hamilton, Victoria and St. Catharines. She was past-president of the Board of Galleries Ontario, and Past-President of the Canadian Art Museum Directors Organization. She’s currently Vice-President of the Board of ArtsBuild, Ontario. Her publication record is extensive.  She's presented papers on photography, performance art, women’s art issues, and First Nations art across Canada and the United States. Her curatorial work included numerous exhibitions. She’s taught courses in 20th Century Canadian and Modern Art, History of Photography and other topics. Her awards include the Ontario Association of Architects award for the Future Cities exhibition in Hamilton, Ontario during her tenure at the Art Gallery of Hamilton showing her interest in the role an art gallery can play in the development of a creative community.

Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery website: https://kwag.ca

Connect with Let’s Be Well Together Podcast:
website: https://letsbewelltogether.com
Follow our Instagram account: @lets.be.well.together use hashtag #letsbewelltogetherpodcast
Provide input on Instagram using hashtag #letsbewelltogetherinput

Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-)   Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle, Noura, Julie and Riley