Comfort and care: Gallery with a Cause explores ‘The Art of Healing’

In November, Gallery with a Cause at the New Mexico Cancer Center opened its latest exhibition, “The Art of Healing,” featuring 300 pieces including photography, sculpture and painting.

Photographer Allen Bourne and his wife have both battled the disease. When he was considering which images to submit to the exhibition, he said he thought back to his time in the waiting room or sitting in an infusion chair.

“Oftentimes, a lot of hospital settings or clinic settings are pretty sterile …” Bourne said. “It’s nice having artwork that is relaxing and kind of engaging.”

The right image can take “your mind off of why you’re there in the hospital or the clinic to begin with,” Bourne said.

Bourne found inspiration in the colors and nature of New Mexico. His pieces showcase several places in New Mexico, including four of the Sandia Mountains from the same angle at different times of day and year.

“Usually, the late part of the day is appealing, because you have different sky situations,” Bourne said. “There’s that window here … right about sunset, you get about 10 minutes of, the watermelon glow, the Sandia glow.”

“There’s always something different,” he said, “and I enjoy it.”

Sculptor Kurt Wuerker creates pieces inspired by nature and said his work gives patients a chance to admire natural forms.

“You take more appreciation when you’re in a position in life where you have to stop and pause, and you’re not so distracted by usual things, you realize how much you take for granted,” Wuerker said. “But what if people can look at this, and if they’re in a healing mindset, it brings them some comfort. It brings the outside to them while they’re indoors.”

Bonnie Binkert, a mixed-media artist, is showing work from her collection “Southwest Abstractions,” which features places like Abiquiú Lake and Acoma Pueblo.

“Like many artists before me, you come to New Mexico, and it’s the light, the landscape and the culture that inspired me to try my hand at art,” Binkert said.

She said the pieces in “The Art of Healing” differ from her traditional use of oranges, yellow and bright colors. Instead, she utilized more cool, icy blues, lavenders and whites in the landscapes.

“This whole series that’s currently up at the New Mexico Cancer Center was a complete departure,” Binkert said.

Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow from the New Mexico Local News Fellowship program. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.