Anatomy and Art

Ok, I first saw this image on a website called Poorlydressed.com, but I think the dress is awesome.

Unfortunately I can’t seem to find anything on the designer, but in trying I did find one more really cool anatonista look.  I don’t know who is out there making these, but I like them!

So I was recently very impressed to discover Choi Xooang.  Based in Seoul Korea and only just a few years older than me, this sculptor is doing some truly amazing work. The best write up I’ve seen so far in looking up this artist comes from Slash/Paris and goes into the various exhibitions seen thus far (see link)
http://www.slash.fr/en/evenements/the-islet-of-asperger

I believe that I am most drawn to these images of stone figures which incorporate highly realistic human components, such as I’ve shown here.  Choi Xooang’s work also includes more complete and elaborate human figures but it’s these I find myself the most fascinated by.

And I just couldn’t refrain from showing this.  The piece is called Pruritis.  It’s true, I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for hands, but come on, just look at this!  I love this work!

Well, it’s that time of year, and for the first time in four or five years, I’m headed out to Burning Man.  I’m really excited about the opportunity to make the trip again, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the event has changed while I’ve been away, and maybe even getting some perspective on how I have changed in my time away from it.  In the time since I last went, I’ve found a new career dream, I applied and completed the graduate program that I just finished.  I don’t think that I had even heard of anaplastology or thought of the idea of medical art the last time I was there.  I was focusing on anatomy in art around that time in my life, but had no idea the paths that would open for me.

I know that living in Chicago has changed me.  Any time you uproot and move, it changes you.  I know that my studies have changed me.  This program has been a huge challenge, and it has been a part of shaping the me I am today.  I look forward to conversations with old friends about the things that I have learned and the new dreams I have for the kind of work and life I want for myself.

A lot of people work very hard every year to create amazing art installations and beautiful things for this event.  I don’t have anything like that to bring at this point.  Believe me, it’s easy to get to thinking about what one would do with unlimited funds.  With the work I’ve done in the last year, the temptation becomes to make all kinds of anatomical art out there for people to interact with and play with in the middle of the desert.  But even without being able to do anything like that, I feel like I’m bringing some piece of the outside world with me.  I’m glad for the time I’ve taken away from this event, and for the things I’ve learned, and work I’ve done.  And now it’s time to go back, and challenge myself with desert living again, and learn a little more about myself outside of the academic environment again.

There is such a spirit of possibility out there.  Even just getting such a coveted ticket this year, well the odds were tough, but here I am going.  The people helping me get there, and who I will stay with are such ‘anything is possible’ people, that they never cease to inspire me.  I had to give some thought to allowing myself to be away from my computer and distracted from the job hunt to go, but I feel like this is the right decision.  I hope to return enriched, and ready for the next steps to come.  After all, if 50,000 or so people can come together to build a city in the desert for a week and then tear it all down just because they want to, what can’t we do?

So I just stumbled on to the works of Richard Tennant Cooper.  It’s strange, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information on the artist out there, but his images seem to be carrying on, on their own right.  So here’s me, propagating that circumstance by putting up a couple images here as well.

I’m not sure if he’s playing to the frightening nature of medical work, or perhaps the idea of riding that line between life and death.  Maybe he just likes things that are spooky.  But it’s interesting work.

You can find more images by searching under his name, just very little information about the guy.

As I sit here typing this, a very good friend of mine is currently undergoing hand surgery.  We’d actually talked about me maybe coming and taking pictures of the whole thing if her doctors were comfortable with it.  But such things really are much more easily arranged through the surgeons than they are through the patients.  So now, she’s in there with just the surgeons, which I hate, since they’re keeping her awake for this.  And I’m also missing what could be my last chance to view a hand surgery.  That may sound odd if you’re not involved in my line of work, but I had wanted and planned to see a hand surgery as part of my training in anaplastology.  Particularly for the somatic work, it made sense to get a closer look at things.  But the timing never worked out and it didn’t come to be.

Hands are such fascinating complicated pieces of anatomy.  I hate that my friend hurt hers while coming to see me in celebration of my finishing grad school no less!  But right now, I’m on the patient’s side of the equation.  And I’m trusting that she’s in good care.  And I’m hoping that someone in there is talking to her and keeping this from being a terrible experience for her. If anyone could keep good spirits about them through a thing like this though, it’s my friend, Jasmine.

She told me that they’re reducing one of her carpal bones.  It’s not a procedure I’m familiar with.

This is about as familiar as I get with the carpal bones.  And it’s been a couple of years now since I got this involved in knowing about them.  Starting from the most commonly broken big one at the base there and working around, their names are scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform (that little ball on top of triquetrum), hamate, capitate, trapezoid, and trapezium (which I keep thinking could be the one my friend is having reduced today since we’ve been calling it a broken thumb.)

But aside from their names, basic shapes, and a little bit of trivia about them, I really don’t know much about these little guys we have all jumbled up in our wrists.  I wish I was in there right now, getting the low down what they’re doing for my friend.  But I’m not.  So, like millions of friends and loved ones of patients before, and millions more to come, I can only think good wishes to her and hope for the best.

Today I spoke with a woman about blood supply shortages.  And I just thought that it was worth reminding people that the summer months tend to see a drop in the over all blood supply.  Local blood banks would be happy to receive donations from fine folks like you.  So if you’re the type to go and do that sort of thing, here’s your nudge to make the trip this month.

If you’re in Chicago like me, LifeSource would be happy to see you.  And Heartland has several locations throughout Illinois.  The Red Cross also accepts blood donations and has centers nationwide.

Because blood has a limited shelf life, it is ideal for people to donate throughout the year to keep supplies strong.

And the job hunt is on! Been getting a lot of flattering feedback about my work lately, but I’m still trying to figure out the big step into gainful employment. And in the meantime, I’ve started another painting again. I’m still sorting out exactly where this is going, but it’s a start that I can work with.

Actually, it occurs to me that being between grad school and work right now, maybe I should be promoting some of my previous paintings for sale a little bit more.  So here are a few that I have around presently that are available for purchase, and if you ever care to peruse the full collection, I keep a record of every one I make over at http://snapshotgenius.com/paint Any image you click on there will tell you if it is available for purchase, has been sold, or was made as a gift there.  But for now, here are a few of my paintings that are presently available for sale.  And if you should ever care to inquire about pricing, I can be reached here, or via direct email Sara(at)anatomyandart(dot)com.