Creativity Flows from Feinberg Community at Annual Art in the Atrium Exhibit
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| Jennifer Hoffmann, first year medical student at Feinberg, displays her oil painting, Innocent Girl at the Seashore. |
The Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine recently held its 17th annual Art in the Atrium exhibit in the Ryan Family Atrium of the Lurie Research Building. The event was hosted by the Staff Relations Committee and included original artwork produced by medical school students, research associates, faculty and staff members.
Felecia Stokes, a member of the Feinberg Staff Relations Committee and team leader of the event, says the program has grown tremendously, with 35 displays submitted this year. Stokes has always enjoyed the experience as a spectator — speaking with the artists and learning about the inspiration behind their work.
“Art in the Atrium offers the Northwestern community a chance to showcase their artistic abilities,” Stokes says. “The event also gives colleagues an opportunity to interact and network with other artists.”
Jennifer Hoffmann, a first year medical student, is interested in oil painting and charcoal drawing —activities that provide her with a relaxing break from studying. Hoffmann also enjoys crafts such as making crepe paper flowers.
Hoffmann was a mathematics major as an undergraduate at Northwestern University and has no formal training in the arts. Because she encouraged her to finger paint at just three years old, Hoffmann credits her mother for her artistic talents. For her Art in the Atrium debut, Hoffmann submitted an oil painting titled Innocent Girl at the Seashore.
“The composition of the painting is meant to convey the sense of vastness, peace and beauty felt when looking out over the ocean,” Hoffmann says. “Since I am originally from New Jersey, I have many fond memories of the shore, and I was able to put my heart into the work.”
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| Michelle Melin-Rogovin, administrative director at the Community-Engaged Research Center of the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, displays her photograph, Dahlias. |
Michelle Melin-Rogovin, administrative director at the Community-Engaged Research Center of the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS), was delighted to take part in Art in the Atrium, as a breast cancer diagnosis prevented her involvement last year.
“I couldn’t wait to submit my work this year because it meant that I made it through my treatment,” Melin-Rogovin said. “I really love working at Northwestern and appreciate the fact that employees are encouraged to share their creative talents.”
Melin-Rogovin is proud of her submission, Dahlias, a color photograph of flowers she grew in her garden one summer. This piece has special meaning to Melin-Rogovin because she took the picture with a Minolta 35mm camera that she saved up enough money to purchase at the age of 10; she used the camera for 25 years before it was no longer functioning.
“I like the fact that it is possible to find beauty in my own backyard,” Melin-Rogovin says.
As a show of support for her contributions to both the event and to NUCATS, many of Melin-Rogovin’s colleagues attended the reception. It’s this encouragement that, Melin-Rogovin says, helped her to get through her treatment and makes her proud to be an employee of Northwestern.
“Art in the Atrium is a celebration of our intellect, our creativity and our passion as a community,” Melin-Rogovin says. “The event illustrates our potential to impact one another, our work and the people whose lives we aim to improve each day through research, education and teaching.”