Angela Nader still remembers the woman who called the art gallery several months ago, wanting to find out how to contact the artist with the prayer beads before her friend died.
It's just one of many such calls that Nader has received at the
MidMichigan Healing Arts Gallery -- a well-kept secret located near the outpatient lab and main entrance at the
MidMichigan Health Center in Midland.
"It made me feel really good to help that person," says Nader, gallery coordinator at the hospital.
The hospital in Midland is one of few in Mid Michigan with an art gallery. And while the connection between art and medicine may not be apparent to some, for the patients and their visitors, the small gallery often provides an oasis.
"It's an unexpected mechanism to reduce the stress and anxiety that's often associated with healthcare facilities," Nader says. "It's more of a relaxed atmosphere."
Art displayed in the gallery also sometimes holds special meaning for people if they view it during a particular difficult time while visiting a friend or family member, she says. The memory of a particular piece of art sometimes prompts people to call the gallery long after an exhibit has moved on, so that they can track down an artist.
The gallery, which opened in 1990, features work from area artists for four weeks at a stretch. Many artists sell their work during the exhibits. And while the selection is not juried, Nader works with the Midland Artists Guild and others who have found out about the gallery by word of mouth. An upcoming exhibit -- from Sept. 13 through Oct. 8 -- will feature artwork from members of the Midland Artist Guild.
Admission is free to the gallery, which is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
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