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Island Packet Article

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Maureen Kerstein
Maureen Kerstein

The Hospice Savannah Art Gallery displays soothing artwork to help palliative care patients and their families. The gallery sources contemporary pieces every two months that depict calm subjects like seascapes. A current exhibit features 25 watercolors by local artist Maureen Kerstein, who donates proceeds to Hospice Savannah. The coordinator says the artwork helps create a less institutional environment and also educates the community about hospice care. Families often connect with pieces they see while visiting loved ones at Hospice House.

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islandpacket.com | Paintings help soothe the souls of Hospice House patients and families Page 1 of 2 Skip Navigation islandpacket.com - The Island Packet Online Hilton Head Island - Bluffton, SC Friday, May 19, 2006 Summer Camps Browse through camps in southern Beaufort County. Place a Classified Ad Compose your own ad on our new secure server. Readers' Choice Vote for the best in southern Beaufort County. Search Classifieds in the Lowcountry and the Coastal Empire. Home ? Features Paintings help soothe the souls of Hospice House patients and families BY JACQUELYN LEWIS, The Island Packet Published Friday, August 5, 2005 Comments (0) Add Comment Richmond Hill artist Maureen Kerstein says she felt like she not only was helping herself, but others, too, when she mounted her current watercolor exhibit at the Hospice Savannah Art Gallery. quot;I wanted to have a huge show where I could show a lot of my work,quot; she says. quot;And it was nice that it benefited hospice. It makes you feel like you are doing something good.quot; Hospice Savannah opened its art gallery, located inside Hospice House at 1352 Eisenhower Drive, about seven years ago, with the goal of providing soothing artwork for patients and their families at the palliative care facility, says art gallery coordinator Beth Logan. quot;It just helps (Hospice House) to be a much better place,quot; Logan says. quot;We are always striving to make it calm and more home-like, and not so institutionalized.quot; She says another goal was to help the community learn more about hospice. quot;There were a lot of misconceptions about what Hospice House was about,quot; Logan says. quot;This was a way we could invite the community to come in and see artwork, and take away some of the myths they might have about visiting hospice.quot; The gallery also benefits Hospice Savannah because the artists always donate a portion of exhibit sales to the organization, Logan adds. Photo: quot;Beachcomberquot; in watercolor by Maureen Kerstein. She says the gallery changes exhibits every two months, and the artwork always is suitable for Special to The Packet hospice. + Enlarge Image quot;We always get stuff that is going to tie in with the environment,quot; Logan says. Kerstein's 25 paintings on exhibit are mostly seascapes, skyscapes and florals. Kerstein, a member of the Georgia Watercolor Society who originally is from Michigan, describes the paintings as contemporary and semi-abstract. http://www.islandpacket.com/features/story/5071416p-4622196c.html 5/19/2006
islandpacket.com | Paintings help soothe the souls of Hospice House patients and families Page 2 of 2 quot;I experiment with a lot of different materials,quot; she says. Photo: quot;Ingeniousquot; in watercolor by Kerstein paints on Yupo, a slick, synthetic paper she says allows her to capture the look and movement of the Maureen Kerstein. sea. Special to The Packet quot;I like it because I can get a lot of the effect, and it looks exactly like waves and water,quot; she says of Yupo. quot;The + Enlarge Image watercolor pigments just sit on top of the paper and they just glow.quot; Kerstein, who has lived in the South for 25 years, says her seascapes are inspired by a life of being near the water and participating in hobbies such as boating. quot;I think the seascapes actually come out of my memories because I spent so much time on the water,quot; she says. quot;I love the calmness of it.quot; Logan says she hopes hospice patients and other visitors to the Hospice Savannah Art Gallery get a sense of that tranquility. quot;Watercolors are muted and gentle,quot; Logan says. quot;That's a nice expression for Hospice House.quot; She adds that families who spend time at Hospice House often get attached to the work they see at the gallery. Photo: quot;Evening Stormquot; in watercolor quot;I usually get a call from a family member wanting to buy a painting,quot; Logan says. quot;They have been there at Hospice House with their by Maureen Kerstein. loved one, and they feel sort of connected to the work. It's a way to help them remember their loved one. I think that means a lot to Special to The Packet families.quot; + Enlarge Image Contact Jacquelyn Lewis at 706-8125 or jlewis@islandpacket.com. To comment on this story, please go to www.islandpacket.com. advertisement Palmetto Tree and Moon Merchandise and gifts featuring the South Carolina Palmetto Tree Ads by Google Copyright ? The Island Packet, 2006. http://www.islandpacket.com/features/story/5071416p-4622196c.html 5/19/2006

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Island Packet Article

  • 1. islandpacket.com | Paintings help soothe the souls of Hospice House patients and families Page 1 of 2 Skip Navigation islandpacket.com - The Island Packet Online Hilton Head Island - Bluffton, SC Friday, May 19, 2006 Summer Camps Browse through camps in southern Beaufort County. Place a Classified Ad Compose your own ad on our new secure server. Readers' Choice Vote for the best in southern Beaufort County. Search Classifieds in the Lowcountry and the Coastal Empire. Home ? Features Paintings help soothe the souls of Hospice House patients and families BY JACQUELYN LEWIS, The Island Packet Published Friday, August 5, 2005 Comments (0) Add Comment Richmond Hill artist Maureen Kerstein says she felt like she not only was helping herself, but others, too, when she mounted her current watercolor exhibit at the Hospice Savannah Art Gallery. quot;I wanted to have a huge show where I could show a lot of my work,quot; she says. quot;And it was nice that it benefited hospice. It makes you feel like you are doing something good.quot; Hospice Savannah opened its art gallery, located inside Hospice House at 1352 Eisenhower Drive, about seven years ago, with the goal of providing soothing artwork for patients and their families at the palliative care facility, says art gallery coordinator Beth Logan. quot;It just helps (Hospice House) to be a much better place,quot; Logan says. quot;We are always striving to make it calm and more home-like, and not so institutionalized.quot; She says another goal was to help the community learn more about hospice. quot;There were a lot of misconceptions about what Hospice House was about,quot; Logan says. quot;This was a way we could invite the community to come in and see artwork, and take away some of the myths they might have about visiting hospice.quot; The gallery also benefits Hospice Savannah because the artists always donate a portion of exhibit sales to the organization, Logan adds. Photo: quot;Beachcomberquot; in watercolor by Maureen Kerstein. She says the gallery changes exhibits every two months, and the artwork always is suitable for Special to The Packet hospice. + Enlarge Image quot;We always get stuff that is going to tie in with the environment,quot; Logan says. Kerstein's 25 paintings on exhibit are mostly seascapes, skyscapes and florals. Kerstein, a member of the Georgia Watercolor Society who originally is from Michigan, describes the paintings as contemporary and semi-abstract. http://www.islandpacket.com/features/story/5071416p-4622196c.html 5/19/2006
  • 2. islandpacket.com | Paintings help soothe the souls of Hospice House patients and families Page 2 of 2 quot;I experiment with a lot of different materials,quot; she says. Photo: quot;Ingeniousquot; in watercolor by Kerstein paints on Yupo, a slick, synthetic paper she says allows her to capture the look and movement of the Maureen Kerstein. sea. Special to The Packet quot;I like it because I can get a lot of the effect, and it looks exactly like waves and water,quot; she says of Yupo. quot;The + Enlarge Image watercolor pigments just sit on top of the paper and they just glow.quot; Kerstein, who has lived in the South for 25 years, says her seascapes are inspired by a life of being near the water and participating in hobbies such as boating. quot;I think the seascapes actually come out of my memories because I spent so much time on the water,quot; she says. quot;I love the calmness of it.quot; Logan says she hopes hospice patients and other visitors to the Hospice Savannah Art Gallery get a sense of that tranquility. quot;Watercolors are muted and gentle,quot; Logan says. quot;That's a nice expression for Hospice House.quot; She adds that families who spend time at Hospice House often get attached to the work they see at the gallery. Photo: quot;Evening Stormquot; in watercolor quot;I usually get a call from a family member wanting to buy a painting,quot; Logan says. quot;They have been there at Hospice House with their by Maureen Kerstein. loved one, and they feel sort of connected to the work. It's a way to help them remember their loved one. I think that means a lot to Special to The Packet families.quot; + Enlarge Image Contact Jacquelyn Lewis at 706-8125 or jlewis@islandpacket.com. To comment on this story, please go to www.islandpacket.com. advertisement Palmetto Tree and Moon Merchandise and gifts featuring the South Carolina Palmetto Tree Ads by Google Copyright ? The Island Packet, 2006. http://www.islandpacket.com/features/story/5071416p-4622196c.html 5/19/2006