This-Ability Gallery Opening
UCONN Health Center
Farmington
April 18, 2024
The therapeutic nature of art has been well documented for thousands of years, but often presented from the perspective of the artist. What about the effects that viewing art has on the healing process for people who are recovering?
I went to the UCONN Health Center to witness the opening of the This-Ability Gallery to see for myself. The gallery is a collaboration between UCONN Health and the Art Connection Studio, which I wrote about last October. I was so impressed with the work and the mission of the studio that when I was invited to their latest gallery, I jumped at the opportunity.
Art Connection Studio, a nonprofit supported by VinFenCT, works with artists with disabilities to give them an opportunity to experience art-based programming both as therapy and as a creative release. The theme of “This-ability” honors the contributions of the artists, and also the audience that will view the work.
The gallery is located in a main artery of the health center. Patients and their families will be able to draw pleasure and inspiration from the displayed work.
A range of leaders and luminaries from UCONN Health and VinFen came out to celebrate the gallery.
“The main mission of this gallery is to help in the healing of patients,” said Dr. Bruce Liang, CEO of UCONN Health and dean of the school of medicine. “It’s important to show the work of people with disabilities to show patients what is possible.”
Dr. Jeff Hines, UCONN Health’s chief diversity officer, was sold on the idea of exhibiting the Art Connection Studio’s work as soon as he learned about it. “I went to the studio to check out the artwork, and I was beyond impressed,” he said. “This is just the beginning of what’s to come.”
The woman who made it all happen, Javiera Olhaberry, spoke about why she wanted the work to be displayed at UCONN Health. “Positive and nurturing relationships are important to healing, both for our clients at VinFen and the patients here. What is more positive than this relationship with UCONN Health.
The exhibit consisted of three individual pieces, and a large polyfab fabric mural. The pieces reflected the personalities of the artists, but I found myself drawn in particular to the piece by Victoria Pacheco.
The work conveys a sense of melancholy that is both reflective and sad. I’ve always been drawn to melancholy as an emotion and an experience. Sadness and grief are part of our emotional palette as human beings, and sometimes we need to paint with those colors too.
The experience of melancholy can often be quite beautiful, as experiencing sadness offers release and catharsis that other emotions can’t. Happiness and laughter make us feel full, while sadness can leave us feeling empty and spent. But sometimes it’s necessary to empty the emotional tank.
I spoke to Victoria about what inspires her to make her art. “Looking at someone else’s work makes me want to do my own work in my own style,” she said. Her style certainly stands out, and her special ability will help those on their path to recovery when they need the catharsis I felt.
NEXT
The exhibit can be viewed at UConn Health in the hallway connecting the Connecticut Tower and the University Tower.
Jamil looks for something cool to do. Stay tuned!
