By Lori Drew
There is no sure way we, as artists, can begin to capture the glory of creation that surrounds us. But we try. In “TWINS” at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, local artists come together to share the glory of their twin creations through Mar. 8, 2017 in the Atrium. Concurrently, we celebrate the uniqueness of twins and find the creative spirit alive in three South Walton artists lucky enough to be a twin.
With their sisters by their side in spirit, Melissa Brown, Melanie Moore and JoAnne Jones share their art along with other local artists. A portion of the proceeds from all sales goes to the hospital’s Arts in Medicine program.
“The best thing about being a twin is having your best friend as your sister and experiencing life at the same age,” explained Melissa Brown, a mixed-media painter. Her identical twin, Melanie Johnson, is a certified public account who expresses her creativity with music. “Growing up, she and I were always involved in some type of creativity such as lessons with oil painting, ceramics, quilting and knitting/crocheting. Our mother encouraged our creativity as she and my grandmother were very creative women,” says Brown. “I knew one day we would tap again into our creative spirit because we experienced such freedom together when we were children.” While Melissa paints, Melanie plays guitar, mandolin and violin. The diptych painting created for the hospital show clearly combines a little from each sister.
Watercolorist Melanie Moore also credits her parents for encouraging creativity in her and her twin sister, Virginia (Gigi). “As children growing up as twins, it was very common for us to retreat into our own imaginary world, populated by characters of our own making, and fanciful interpretations of our shared experiences,” says Moore. “We were also fortunate that our parents encouraged our creativity. I think this experience informs our work as artists and our ability to improvise.”
“I also appreciate that my twin sister offers especially insightful feedback and interpretations of my work, based on our unique relationship,” explained Melanie. Her identical twin is a dancer, and Melanie’s watercolors for TWINS dances with color and form.
JoAnne Jones paints in acrylic while her sister, Judy, reads. They live on the same street, so time together is the tie that binds them. “It’s comforting to know family is close by and you can see them whenever you want,” said Jones. That comfort can be seen in the artist’s work she created for TWINS and dedicates to her sister who forfeited the artistic gene to JoAnne.
The diptych show and sale in the hospital’s atrium is open every day during visiting hours, and staff members there encourage family members as well as the public to take in the artistic beauty. “Arts in Medicine is an emerging field within healthcare that addresses what many have long known and medical research is now proving – that music, writing, dance, storytelling and other art activities can play an important role in healing not just the body, but the mind and spirit of an individual,” said Sharon Abele, who leads Arts in Medicine at the local hospital.
Sacred Heart brings artists, artwork and performers into the hospital to provide activities at the bedside and in outpatient clinical areas and waiting rooms. Donations from the sale of local art help to keep this program flourishing, according to Abele.
What is the best thing about having a twin? For Moore, “it is that no matter what you encounter in life, you have an unmistakable and unbreakable bond with someone who uniquely identifies with you. After all, you have known each other even before you were born!” She continued, “I also believe that loving and appreciating someone who is your ‘mirror’ sometimes helps us with our own self-acceptance, as well as silencing that ‘inner critic’ that we all have as artists.”
You may not be a twin or have a twin in your family, but you can have a TWINS diptych in your home when you purchase one from the new art show in the Atrium, which is located directly upstairs from the hospital’s main entrance. Sacred Heart Hospital is located at 7800 US Hwy 98 West, Miramar Beach. For more information, please contact Lori Drew at 850-585-7689 or email lori@loridrew.net.
Author: SWal Life
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