Ocala's Connection Between Art & Health

"Before I commit to a project, I need to know my "why" - it drives me. As long as I know that, I can handle any challenges that may arise.

We began working on Arts in Health Ocala Metro at the height of the Covid Pandemic. In a time when "hope" felt "hopeless", our Development Partners at the University of Florida sent me this video.

I will be forever grateful to Tina Mullen and Jill Sonke of UF Arts in Medicine for sharing with me the story of Moe and the Arts in Medicine Team."

"My passion for arts in health began in 2019 via an email invitation to attend a University of Florida Arts in Health seminar led by the amazing Jill Sonke on how to integrate veterans programming into a museum setting. I was then an art museum curator and the idea intrigued me as I knew Ocala and Marion County had a large veteran population. I went to the seminar and was hooked! Here was a way to directly serve the community in a hands-on manner through art, and I began implementing what I learned right away. I continued to absorb whatever I could about the link between the arts, health, and wellbeing which eventually led to conversations with Lisa Midgett and my current position as Executive Director of Arts in Health Ocala Metro (AIHOM). The data is indisputable; art has the power to heal, reduce pain, and make a profound difference in our lives. Your kind donation will help AIHOM fulfill its healing mission. Thank You!"

"I myself have experienced the power of healing through art. I enjoy painting when I feel stressed or down. I enjoy music, it moves me, and enhances my surroundings. I understand the power of dance,and the joy it brings people. My why is because I understand that art is healing, and a world with art is a better place. To see happiness on people's faces when they see art in a place of sadness, is the most rewarding thing I've experienced."

"Ocala is my hometown. My community allows me to live my dream of being a full time musician. With AIHOM I have the opportunity to give back to my community and directly improve the health and well being of people in it with my music. I can’t think of a higher honor.”

English:
"Why! I have always thought that life is art and art is life. Our senses and souls react through the color, the shapes, the textures and the rhythms. The human being excites me in the essence, the will, the power and the purpose. I am a teacher of plastic arts and a sculptor artist. At AIHOM I agree with the mission of making a contribution to my community through art. We seek to transform and evolve our lives in beautiful art.

Spanish:
Por que? Siempre he pensado que la vida es arte y el arte es vida. Nuestros sentidos y alma reaccionan a través del color, las formas, las texturas y los ritmos. El ser humano me apasiona en la esencia, la voluntad, el poder y el propósito. Soy maestra de artes plásticas y artista escultora. En AIHOM estoy de acuerdo con la misión de hacer un aporte a mi comunidad a través del arte. Buscamos transformar y evolucionar nuestras vidas en bellas artes."

Everyone has a story, and each story tells of the unique and special people that originate from those stories.

I learned at an early age that I loved words, books, and creating stories. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered that I would need words to help save me from my story. Writing helped me through some of the worst times in my life and now I am passionate about helping others overcome through storytelling and literary work.

Every day is a new page in our book. When one writes, it allows opportunities for reflection and growth to be cultivated in our hearts. Life is beautiful and we get the opportunity to pen those pages for others to experience our tragedies and our triumphs.

Crafting words together to tell our stories is an art form that I am honored to be able to share with others through Arts In Health Ocala Metro’s Literary Art opportunities.