Portrait of a process: arts-based research in a head and neck cancer clinic

This article describes one collaborative arts-based research project. Portrait artist Mark Gilbert considers lessons for art and healing from one patient, Lisa. Lisa took comfort in the permanence of portraiture amidst the uncertainties of tongue cancer. Arts-Based ResearchThe Experience of Portraiture in a Clinical Setting (EPICS) project sought to explore my artistic interactions and shared experiences with patients from the Head and Neck Cancer Clinic at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. 1 The following portraits of Lisa enable investigation of the ethical and aesthetic value of permanence in Lisa's illness and portraiture experiences.

Section: Arts-based Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Permanent Lisa

Gilbert

2020

“…In Gilbert's previous arts-based research, patients with cancer whose portraits he painted described feeling empowered-of not feeling alone-when they saw the other portraits and found it therapeutic to share their stories and feel heard. 11 There is, however, a vulnerability and risk in having a portrait painted. During this study, Brad's mother was concerned that a portrait would not capture the "whole picture" and would be limited to a period in his life.…”

Section: Portrait Perceptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Portraits of Children With Epilepsy

Stewart

2020

“…1 In particular, ABR has been used to explore, illustrate, define, treat, and explain cancer across the control continuum. 2,3,4,5…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Arts-Based Research Methods to Explore Cancer in Indigenous Communities

Rookwood

Abney

Butler-Robbins

et al. 2022

Background: Indigenous peoples experience an inequitable burden of cancer compared with other populations. The arts can serve as a culturally relevant cancer intervention and research method.Methods: A scoping review was conducted to determine how arts-based research methods have been used to address cancer in Indigenous peoples. Literature searches identified 129 publications; 32 were selected for review. The following data were extracted: communities employing arts-based cancer research, cancer control continuum stages, cancer types, art forms, and methodologies.Results: Most studies were conducted in the United States. Art as research and sound art forms were the most utilized arts-based methods. Cancer types and control continuum stages were not often specified.Conclusions: Culturally responsive, arts-based methods can enhance research and education across the cancer-control continuum with Indigenous populations. Art as Data SourcesThe arts can serve as the core of an intervention (eg, art therapy, narrative medicine) and as a method of research (ie, arts-based research). There is a growing movement to diversify the academic research environment by treating the arts as an empirical source of information and to expand our understanding of what art is to include what art does. 1 Arts-based research (ABR), a method of inquiry that recognizes artistic expressions as ways of knowing, uses artistic expression and the artistic process as a primary mode of inquiry to understand and examine the experience of both researchers and research participants. 1 In particular, ABR has been used to explore, illustrate, define, treat, and explain cancer across the control continuum. 2,3,4,5