E029 Shirley Madill Connections Between Art and Wellness
Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 29
Date: August 16, 2022
Participants: John Webster, Sammy Damaren, Cameron Earnshaw, Sheila Webster and Elise Seifert
Guest: Shirley Madill
Start times and Segment Segments:
[0:00:44] What’s On Your Mind: Guest co-host Elise Seifert chats with Sheila about a book - Legacy: Trauma Story and Indigenous Healing by Suzanne Methot. They explore the concept of the four R’s as the driving force of an Indigenous community – Respect, Responsibility, Reciprocity and Relationships to help build a healthy community.
[0:08:50] Expanding Minds Interview: [Artistic Wellness] Shirley Madill, Executive Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery discusses art as a rich source of wellness. We chat about the impact of removing art from a community, and the benefits of art in general, and art programs that help seniors, youth (including at risk youth), people with Alzheimers or autism.
[0:22:42] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron recounts the process of a film score coming to life. Check it out on Spotify. Here’s a link to Cameron’s film score song: Long Gone
While we’re at it, check out Cameron’s artist page on Spotify: Artist Spotify Page
[0:27:02] Move That Body: Tushar Anandasagar found sledding as a way of addressing back pain. He finds sledding to be a great workout.
[0:33:37] Running Popup: John made a discovery and wrote a poem about it 30 years ago. He reads it to celebrate his and Sheila’s 35th Anniversary. There are no more dreams he dares not dream.
[0:38:22] Flipside of the Coin: We talk about an amazing example of art as a fabric of a community, flowing from a performance in Roundstone, Ireland, in 2018.
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.
Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by Liam from Roundstone, Ireland: Well, you gotta give me time to put my shoes on.
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
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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-) Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Julie and Elise