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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Home » Features
Paintings help soothe the souls of Hospice House patients and families
BY JACQUELYN LEWIS, The Island Packet
Published Friday, August 5, 2005
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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
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hospice.
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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.
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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
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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
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families.quot;
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Contact Jacquelyn Lewis at 706-8125 or jlewis@islandpacket.com. To comment on this story, please go to
www.islandpacket.com.
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http://www.islandpacket.com/features/story/5071416p-4622196c.html 5/19/2006