The Arts Of Medicine

A new exhibit on the visual arts of medicine
celebrates the sesquicentennial of the
University of Michigan Medical School.

class, gender and other forces that shape attitudes.
Patricia Simons, associate professor of the histo-
Special to the Jewish News
ry of art and women's studies, and Jonathan
Metzl, assistant professor of psychiatry and
arly anatomical engravings, diagnostic
women's studies, were curators. Their collabora-
dolls - and paintings that capture mile-
tion for this project spanned almost two years.
stones in patient care come together in
Among their finds are engravings from books in
an exhibit that helps celebrate the 150th
the university's Taubman Medical
anniversary of the University of
Library; a series of paintings commis-
Michigan Medical School.
Left: Robert Rauschenberg:
sioned by Parke, Davis & Co. and
There are lots of stories connect-
"Booster," color lithography
then acquired by Pfizer Inc. as it took
ed with the 50 works comprising
and silkscreen on paper,
over the pharmaceutical firm; and a
"Seeing Is Healing? The Visual Arts
1967. The image
Robert Rauschenberg color litho-
of Medicine," which runs Oct. 7-
incorporates X-rays
graph, Booster, a Detroit Institute of
Dec. 3 at the U-M Museum of Art.
of the artist's entire body.
Arts-owned image that incorporates
The objects explore the ways that
X-rays of the artist's entire body.
visual knowledge is employed in the Above: Matthaus Greuter:
"We wanted to show all sorts of
diagnosis, classification and treat-
"Le Medecin Guerissant
ways medicine comes into the visual
ment of disease. Some items go
Phantasie (Physician
arena," Simons says. We also wanted
back to ancient times, while others
Curing Phantasy),
to show how people in medicine have
reference high-tech procedures.
engraving.
looked at the body and their own
"The exhibit will make viewers
practices."
think about assumptions in medi-
The
museum
exhibit is part of a series of artistic
cine," says Carole McNamara, assistant director
initiatives
associated
with the sesquicentennial
for collections and exhibitions at the museum.
observance. There have been historical displays
"There's a very wide range of materials, and it's
just a wonderful examination of cultural and artis- and portrait restorations. On Oct. 13, the school
will open its Hall of Honor, an area with pictures
tic factors in the way medicine is practiced."
of-great doctors who were trained at the medical
Showcasing items from university collections
school or have been on the faculty and con-
and pieces on loan from collections around the
tributed to the school's teaching, service and
country, the exhibit explores the ways in which
research. The honorees were chosen by ballot.
the tradition of compiling medical data through
The date of the Hall of Honor opening coin-
direct observation is influenced by time, place,

SUZANNE CHESSLER

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