Healing the Mind Through Art

Original article by Brian Mastre can be found at  WOWT

Reporter: Brian Mastre
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

A lot has changed in the medical field over the years. It used to be we'd go to the hospital to get diagnosed and treated. This week, Methodist Women's Hospital dedicated a sculpture to harness the connection between the mind and our health.

It took Ben Hammond 15-hours to drive the sculpture from Utah to Omaha. "Wyoming you always worry a little bit." It will live in the healing garden at Methodist women's hospital.

The 400-pound bronze piece took him three months to create. The woman is his wife."The inspiration for this is easy - especially when you have more than one kid and there's a new addition to the family and when you see the toddler fighting for the attention of mom."

Ben Hammond: "She always has me change things about her nose or make her lips look fuller."
The infant is his youngest son. The girl is modeled after a neighbor. He thought a ponytail and dress flowed better.
His other sons don't mind. "He gets paid to model so as long as he gets enough Lego's, he's happy."

The sculpture is another example in a growing list of hospitals treating the illness and the mind.
"A lot of illnesses can be, in part, our mind playing tricks on us."  said Methodist Foundation Medical Director Dr Bill Karrer who has witnessed the changes over the years. This space gives families a place of peace to think.

The sculpture has company. A few feet away is Ben Hammond's wife again.

The first sculpture is called 'Expectant Mother.' "Hopefully there's some mothers and parents can come out here and find joy and hope. I try to create positive images when i sculpt." The McGowan Family Foundation donated funds for this project. It's a part of his family he's comfortable leaving behind for the rest of us.Methodist may place another sculpture in another year.