NOV. 14, 2005 | At the 1964 opening of an addition to Manhattan’s Museum of Modern Art, Lady Bird Johnson said, “Art is the window to man’s soul. Without it, he would never be able to see beyond his immediate world, nor could the world see the man within.”

In Little Rock, there are two groups that take this quote to heart by offering a glimpse of art in the midst of trying times: the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Family Home and the Local Colour artists’ cooperative gallery.

Since its opening in 2002, the Family Home has provided safe homelike housing for patients of the Arkansas Cancer Research Center (ACRC) at UAMS and for parents for infants in the UAMS Medical Center’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Located across from the UAMS campus on Markham Street, the Family Home operates as a private, nonprofit organization and charges only $10 per night to residents who are referred by a social worker.

In addition to providing a comfortable place for patients and their families to rest, the Family Home goes one step further by decorating its great room, library and first floor hall with original works of art on loan from the Local Colour gallery. The participating artists select the paintings to be displayed and rotate the works every six months.

“There’s something about coming into this space and seeing this original art that people automatically know there is something special about it,” said Robin Dean, ACRC Auxiliary Cancer Support Center coordinator. The support center is located at the Family Home.

The idea for the partnership was conceived by Family Home volunteer Doll Wilkins, who, in 2002, approached Local Colour artists Bill Lewis and Jane Holt about participating. To her delight, they agreed.

“When Doll Wilkins visited with Local Colour about a loan program, it was well received. Everyone at Local Colour has been supportive,” Holt said. Located at 5813 Kavanaugh Blvd. in Little Rock, the Local Colour cooperative gallery brings together 21 artists who operate the facility and share exhibit and work space.

Three years after the partnership was formed, the watercolors, oil paintings and other original artwork of Local Colour artists continue to grace the walls of the Family Home. It is the hope of Holt and her fellow artists that their works enrich the lives of patients, family members and volunteers who pass through the home.

“The response from the artists is great, but, more importantly, the patients seem to enjoy the original paintings done by local artists,” Holt said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to our community.”

 Links on This Page
UAMS Family Home:
www.uams.edu/familyhome.