You Are Invited to the Healing Arts Panel on Friday, October 20th
Ever since the days of Greek myth and even earlier, human beings have sensed that the arts can help people deal with illness, whether people create or contemplate art, and whether they are dealing with a physical disorder or an emotional one.
From noon to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20th, please join us for an online conversation about this universally relevant topic. Can’t log onto Zoom at that time? The panel will be recorded, and the recording will be posted on MSUM’s Youtube channel.
The link for this online panel appears below. Want to learn more about the panelists after adding this Zoom link to your online calendar? Then keep reading!
https://minnstate.zoom.us/j/94604529112
THE PANELISTS (in alphabetical order):
Joanne Bekkerus, Administrative Specialist Intermediate, MSUM. Joanne turned to painting and poetry to help her through her own cancer journey. Now she will bring the insights she gained from that experience to our panel.
Ryan Clancy, Faculty, Film Studies. Ryan is a filmmaker, educator, and programmer whose work often explores themes related to addiction. Since addiction of various kinds is one of the most important health issues today, especially for young people, Ryan brings a crucial perspective to the panel.
Jenny Dufault, Faculty, Music. Jenny has worked with music students for a total of over twenty-five years and has included both adults and children among her students. She has long had what she describes as a “passion” for the therapeutic uses of music. A famous line by the English writer William Congreve claims, “Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast” (NOT “beast,” as it is frequently misquoted). Jenny will help us explore the applicability of that line to healing practices.
McCal Johnson O’Donnell, Art Specialist, Sanford Health. A graduate of MSUM’s Art program, McCal currently works at Sanford’s Roger Maris Cancer Center, where she helps cancer patients deal with the emotional and physical toll of their diagnosis and treatment by engaging with the visual arts. In fact, Joanne, another one of our panelists, worked with McCal while receiving care at Roger Maris.
Alicia Swanson, Faculty, Nursing. A registered nurse as well as a professor of Nursing, Alicia teaches Integrative Nursing classes in MSUM’s Nursing program as well as being the Graduate Nursing Program Coordinator. With her in-depth knowledge of modern medicine, Alicia brings scientific rigor and expertise to this exploration of longstanding traditions.
Kevin Zepper, Faculty, English. A poet, visual artist, musician, and actor as well as an English professor, Kevin has taught workshops on Therapeutic Writing and worked with the residents in long-term care facilities. He has also studied holistic nursing and shamanic practices to further expand his knowledge of the connections between mind, body, and spirit.