NEWS RELEASE
HOSPICE ORILLIA
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Hospice Orillia and the Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH) have collaborated for Dying Matters: Reflections of Growth Through Grief, an art exhibition and fundraiser focused on normalizing death and dying in a death-phobic society.
Society often looks down upon conversation surrounding death and dying, but both Hospice Orillia and OMAH want to show the community it is OK to talk about death by way of hosting an art exhibit focused on just that. The show will feature work by local artists that addresses the themes of death, loss, grief, growth and healing.
“As an artist, I am able to use art as a form of therapy. When I am creating, the stress of the outside world disappears. As a curator, I am interested in creating exhibitions that people can relate to and find that their voices are represented,” said Tanya Cunnington, arts programming co-ordinator for OMAH. “I hope that people will find comfort in this exhibition, and realize that we are not alone in our shared grief.”
“In our experience of supporting the bereaved, we have noticed how much more open people become to talking if they are doing something creative with their hands during a group,” said Louise Brazier, bereavement services co-ordinator with Hospice Orillia. “Even those that identify as non-artsy, myself included, have benefited from drawing, painting, writing or sculpting as an outlet of growing through grief. This exhibition will provide those who have yet to try art as a form of expression the opportunity to explore the work of local artists to see what death, loss, grief, growth and healing means to them.”
The exhibition will take place in OMAH’s Franklin Carmichael Gallery, April 23 to July 16.
Upon completion of the exhibit, the art pieces will be auctioned off to raise much-needed funds for both Hospice Orillia and OMAH.
“Stay tuned to our Facebook event page and both organizations’ websites as there will be interactive programs made available for a fee,” Cunnington added. “In addition, anyone who attends the exhibition Tuesday to Saturday will have the opportunity to create their own unique piece that reflects moving from the emptiness of grief into life, which can then be added to our community wall.”
Dying Matters: Reflections of Growth Through Grief will open to the public on Saturday, April 23 and will run through to July 16. OMAH hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5, while members and those under 25 years of age are free.
For more information on Dying Matters: Reflections of Growth Through Grief, please visit www.hospiceorillia.ca/dyingmatters or www.orilliamuseum.org.
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