TAGUMENYO healthcare workers utilized the arts to break away from stress related to the pandemic, as the Tagum City Historical and Cultural Center organized its first-ever Art in the Park aimed at championing the arts to help certain sectors deal with mental health concerns in these trying times.
An ancillary event of the Center’s National Heroes Day celebration, the first-ever Art in the Park gathered five nurses who were previously enlisted in the Center’s Art as a Tool for Therapy lecture by Resident Artist Victor Augustus Dumaguing.
“Art therapy can improve your mental health because for me it relieves stress, enhances my mood, and helps me to let go of my emotions,” shared Trisha Jay Jao of the City Health Office.
Held at the Tagumpay Nature’s Park last August 27, the one-day event featured a brief lecture and demo by Mr. Dumaguing on the many ways to create art, specifically self-portraits.
Healthcare workers were asked to paint their projection of themselves on the canvas, resulting in a colorful mixture of hues in one grand painting.
Prior to the event, all of the participants had little or no background in painting, and their collective output surprised them.
Their output will be one of the artworks that will be exhibited in the Center’s participation in the Mindanao Art Fair in October, the annual gathering of the best artists on the island.
Mayor Allan Rellon, who also participated in the event, also announced that a similar event will be conducted for the department heads of the local government. (PR)