Calling All Artists

                                   By Sue U. Malone, Executive Director

Sue U. Malone

Many physicians through out history have been involved in creative avocations such as painting, sculpting, photography, handcrafts, drawing, music, dancing, and other art forms. Indeed around 1937 a urologist in San Francisco organized the American Physician Art Association. The doctor, Francis Redewill, was a talented marine painter. He and several other physician artists had the first exhibit of their organization at the AMA meeting in San Francisco that year. The organization continued for many years into the late ’70s, perhaps longer.

In 1993 SMCMA decided that hosting a collection of artistic works of SMCMA physicians would be a fun event and would encourage the artistic expression of the visual arts by our members. At that time we didn’t realize we weren’t pioneers on this front. That year we hosted our  first art exhibit. The success of this effort was followed by exhibits  in 1995 and 1998. All three were enormously popular events with our members, and patients as well, who would drop by the SMCMA headquarters to view the works of physicians who have demonstrated a mastery beyond the practice of medicine. Our president, Barry Sheppard, has asked that we host another such event this coming spring, as we celebrate our 100th year anniversary.

As with the previous events, we plan to kick off a month-long viewing of the art by holding an opening night party this spring. The opening night festivities have always been an enjoyable and entertaining evening. This gathering of members, family, and friends serves as a great opportunity to speak with colleagues, some of whom you had no idea had a hidden talent for painting, sculpting, photography, or jewelry making. It also enables physician artists to meet each other, exchange ideas, and encourage one another in artistic expression.