Illustration by Todd Weddle

A long siege of rain inspired the bright, rich blues that give way to gray in Idy Youngblood’s abstract painting “Rainy Day Blues.”

These blues light a wall near the entrance to the emergency room at Heartland Regional Medical Center, ready to lift spirits as part of the hospital’s “Art for the Health of It” exhibit. This exhibit, which features the work of local artists, opens today and will remain on display through Dec. 3.

“It’s a chance to make the community aware of art,” says Ms. Youngblood, a member of Gallery 7 in St. Joseph. “And I think it does have therapeutic value, both for the artist and the viewer.”

Heartland, with the Allied Arts Council, offers “Art for the Health of It” twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. Paintings, photographs and drawings are accepted for the exhibit, as are other art forms such as sculpture, stained glass and ceramics. Each piece of work is judged before the exhibit, and a first-place award is given in each category. From these, an overall “best in show” is chosen.

Work from a student category also is on display. A reception at 5:30 p.m. today at Heartland will honor all the artists. For more information, call the Allied Arts Council at 233-0231.

“It’s a good venue for people who don’t want to belong to an association but still want their work on display,” says Wanda Taylor, chairman of the Allied Arts Council’s visual arts committee, “and it’s a good way for them to get feedback.”

But “Art for the Health of It,” of course, isn’t only for the artists. According to the American Art Therapy Association, art has the power to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. Art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness and achieve insight.

Although “Art for the Health of It” differs from traditional art therapy in that the patients aren’t the ones creating the art, simply looking at it can have a positive impact on them, Ms. Taylor says.

“Being able to look and see it all on display together helps a patient’s mood and frame of mind,” she adds. “And it can help their loved ones, too. If you have someone in the hospital and you’re there just waiting for news, it’s just nice to have something to look at.”

The art also helps Heartland achieve the atmosphere it’s striving for.

“We have what we call a healing environment,” says David Jones, Heartland’s vice president of support services. “In waiting rooms, we try to create positive distractions that make visitors and patients feel certain themes, such as a connection to art.”

In this exhibit, viewers will be able to look at a photograph of hands stitching a quilt and one of rows of colorful neckties. They’ll see an abstract painting/drawing depicting Paris and one of Kokopelli, the humpbacked flute player, with four birds. And they’ll see many more, as well — including the two by Ms. Youngblood.

“Most of my work attempts to make manifest an idea or feeling or some kind of thought,” she says. “I hope it evokes happiness and hope.”

Lifestyles reporter Erin Wisdom can be reached at ewisdom@npgco.com.