The HeART of Healing

During the summer, a group of volunteers came up with the idea of having an Archimedes Movement project focused on engaging people from the creative arts community. We acknowledge the power of the creative arts in healing and in bringing people together.  Members of the arts community are often among the unserved and underserved in our community and we aim to help raise awareness of this important fact.  Dubbed the "HeART of Healing," this project has generated quite a bit of buzz among local and regional artists, who launched the project with two events this fall: a benefit concert at O'Connors restaurant in Multnomah Village and a performance art celebration on Halloween night. Both were amazing and we hope you'll watch for more opportunities to interact with amazingly creative folks who share our vision for a system that results in health!  

Here's what we enjoyed in October:

Five fantastic – and legendary – musicians performed in a very intimate location, O'Connors Annex in Multnomah Village. Thad Beckman, Jon Coontz, Steve Bradley, Denny Bixby and Curtis Piltz performed and rocked the house with rock and roll, blues and even a little bit of country. It was like being at a jam session because these guys have known each other and played together for many years, but even more amazing because several of these musicians are in the Oregon Music Hall of Fame! We are talking to them about doing a larger concert in the spring at a location that can accomodate a much larger audience. We look forward to another opportunity to join together to enjoy these incredibly talented musicians, to dance and make merry! It was such an honor that they did this for The Archimedes Movement and for our mission to improve health care access for everyone!

The Baba Yaga Ball performance on Halloween night was incredibly faba-licious, according to Archimedes Movement volunteers, Tiffany Wheeler and Kimberly Brown. With huge thanks to Vagabond Opera, the vibe in the room was very festive and sold out. Especially enchanting was the tea leaf reader, Destina, and the stunning row of macabre alter art installations near the elevator. HeARTists spent time absorbing the festivities and heARTwork, discovering nuance and meaning in each inspired detail. "The band was stellar as usual! Funny, chord-crisp, and crazy good."

What does the HeART of Healing have to do with Health Reform? It is an initiative that is engaging artists, who are using creative forms of expression on health and healthful living at the community level. It provides an opportunity for the arts and music community to gain some traction in having their voices heard. People who work in the fields of music, performing arts, and visual arts often do not have ready access to quality or affordable health insurance, leaving them underserved when they need health care. 

Our volunteer planning committee says, "anyone can be a HeARTist!" Volunteer Donna Cohen suggested collecting Haikus for Health. Are you interested or do you have another idea to put on the table? Drop us a line and let us know your ideas! Do you know someone who can help out in arranging venues or sponsorships? Definitely let us know about that, too. Contact Julie and drop the ideas in the proverbial "in-box."