Times of Israel: Conquer Your Own Rhythm - Art and Epilepsy

“...When we reconnected via WhatsApp, Pamela told me that she had once focused primarily on conceptual art but experienced what she described as an “aha moment,” the realization that art could do so much more. What she spoke about most vividly was community. She wanted to create a space where people could share their experiences, recognize themselves in others, and feel less alone, a place that could also serve medical professionals, caregivers, and patients seeking to understand one another’s perspectives. ...” - Simone Kussatz

Read the rest here.

Opening Reception - “Conquer Your Own Rhythm”

 THANKS to everyone who came to the opening reception of

“Conquer Your Own Rhythm”

A group show by artists with Epilepsy

We do have a complete list events associated with the show on the current page of our website: https://www.dnjgallery.net/current.html

Pamela Schoenberg, owner/director of dnj Gallery, and Ted Meyer, founder of ArtandMed, are thrilled to announce their exhibition, “Conquer Your Own Rhythm”: a group show by artists with epilepsy.  dnj Gallery organizes a program, entitled Art and Med, consisting of a ten-week exhibit and correlating events that highlight a chronic illness. The purpose of the program is to continue education, raising awareness and gaining funds for charities.

In April 2024, Schoenberg began the Art and Med program at dnj Gallery. She redirected the gallery’s mission to a space with a charitable and educational purpose.  At first, Schoenberg studied nutritional science, and, in 2023, she received her certification as a Functional Health Coach, combining her two passions of art and health. Pamela Schoenberg now exhibits conceptual, fine art that calls attention to certain health conditions to guide and to raise consciousness within our community.

The ArtandMed curriculum emphasized a combined union between the gallery and the artists/patients.  It was created by Ted Meyer, artist-in-residence at the USC Keck School of Medicine, for use in medical schools. He wanted to further healthcare by stressing the voice of the artist/patient in their artwork, and, as a result, he revealed a commitment to utilizing art as a tool to support individuals.

Our next exhibition deals with epilepsy, which is a condition often caused in the brain and identified by seizures.  A seizure is a quick burst of abnormal activity in the brain that can create short gaps of consciousness, muscle twitches or prolonged spasms.  Most of the time, the origin of the seizure is unknown.  In about 30% of cases, genetics, head injuries, brain infections, or immune, developmental or metabolic disorders can generate epilepsy.

dnj Gallery will collaborate with the Los Angeles chapter of The Epilepsy Foundation for our exhibition, “Conquer Your Own Rhythm”. The Epilepsy Foundation, “in collaboration with our community and network partners, connects the people, data and resources needed to address challenging health problems associated with seizures and the epilepsies—and promotes education, policy, research and systemic change that will foster measurable and sustainable improvement for all people living with epilepsy.”  The Art and Med program at dnj Gallery is grateful to learn and grow because of this union.

Art is therapy.  It is a practice of healing.  Healing is a combination of therapeutic processes that lead to quality heath, which occur on physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual levels.  Each work emphasizes the power of art to answer the question of healing. As Hilary Leftwich states, “…[my] writing became the only language that could hold what medicine could not: the daily collision of love, fear, and endurance.”  It evokes feelings, from joy and sorrow to anger and contentment.  In addition, Aaron Moseley explains that “…it becomes a way to understand, accept, and find strength within the unpredictable, that is life.