January 2, 2007

What the Doctor Ordered

RxArt

Warning: Holiday overdrive may result in dizziness, dry mouth, and loss of appetite.

No need to put the thermometer there. Just take a moment to think about RxArt, an organization that curates fine art installations for health care facilities all over NYC.

The long-term exhibits help prop up patients’ frame of mind and expose them to contemporary works like William Wegman’s Weimaraner photo series and Dominik Lejman’s zoo video pieces.

You can aid the cause by purchasing Between the Lines: a Coloring Book of Drawings by Contemporary Artists. The DIY tome, distributed free to children in partner hospitals, allows you to add your own flair to works by artists like R. Crumb, Calder, and Andy Warhol.

Once you’ve colored in Keith Haring’s two-headed creature, feel free to make a donation to future projects (money always helps), including installations at Saint Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital and Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers.

Get your feel-good fix. No prescription required.

Available online at rxart.net.