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Coinciding with the Kilkenny Arts Festival, an art exhibition at St. Luke’s General Hospital has been officially opened by Minister of State at the Dept. of Tourism Ms. Ann Phelan TD. Titled Mná mo Chroí, the exhibition showcases new work by artist Anne Proctor from the Flipside Studios Kilkenny – along with fellow artists from the Bluebell Art Group: Sheila Foley, Frances Walsh, Mary Gaine, Máire Magner and Andrew Small. The exhibition is located in the Link Corridor between the main hospital and the Dept. of Psychiatry (DoP) buildings.
Speaking at the exhibition launch on Thursday last, Minister Phelan said it was wonderful that St. Luke’s General Hospital marked Arts Week each year with its own exhibition. The Minister also praised the ongoing Arts Programme in the hospital, which offers health promotion through the arts for patients and staff. Minister Phelan said:
“Access to and participation in the arts has been proven to enhance our general wellbeing and reduce stress levels by offering positive distraction and enhancing the environment of patient waiting areas in the Medical Assessment Corridor. The World Health Organisation defines health as more than the absence of illness and embracing overall wellbeing of individuals and communities. The ‘Mná mo Chroí’ exhibition underlines all of these things and its colourful presence in the hospital is something I’m delighted to be associated with.”
The Arts Co-ordinator for St. Luke’s General Hospital for Carlow/Kilkenny Ms. Edelle Nolan also addressed the launch and said:
“We’re delighted to have local artist Anne Proctor featuring in our exhibition this year. Anne first starting painting as an adult when she was introduced to the mediums of oil and pastels and her preferred medium is pastels. Anne’s contemporary style comes from an emotional base, and her first collection of work has been named after women in her life that have had a strong influence on her. This exhibition also affords the hospital a further opportunity to support retired staff members in the Bluebell Art Group, who are exhibiting along with the lead artist. They exemplify positive aging recommendations of active retirement by enjoying the health benefits of the arts.”
“The exhibition is another feature in a significant arts programme ongoing in the hospital inclusive of: A staff Art Exhibition at Christmas; A Healing Garden project; Design projects, in consultation with staff, for clinic and consultation rooms and enhancement projects for family rooms and various paediatric ward initiatives (including the ‘Art Cart’ providing art making opportunities for patients at their bedsides) and Poetry projects, such as ‘A Menu of Poems’ – bringing poetry to all patients in hospital to celebrate National Poetry Day.”
The General Manager of St. Luke’s General Hospital for Carlow/Kilkenny Ms. Anne Slattery, concluding the launch, said:
“This exhibition occurs at an auspicious time for the arts in St. Luke’s, with the development of a Capital Building project. The hospital expansion includes the following services: Emergency Dept., Medical Assessment Unit, Oncology, and Day Services Units, Library Education Centre, MRI Department and new linked concourse to the rest of the hospital. This development has qualified for the national “Percent for Art funding” and enables us to expand the hospital’s art collection and a new exhibition area and music/ poetry performance area in the new hospital foyer.”
The Mná mo Chroí exhibition is open to the public during hospital visiting hours (2-4pm and 6.30-9pm daily) until the end of August.
