By Shauna Mazenes
Patricia Ritacca knows the healing power of art – she lives it every day.
As a life-long art curator and four-time cancer patient, she says it provides both a means of escape and an opportunity to explore the emotional impacts of illness.
"Looking at a beautiful landscape or a compelling abstract has the potential to distract or transport you, or slow you down and make you breathe a little bit deeper," says Patricia, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at 23, then breast cancer at 38, which recurred twice, one year apart.
"There's a sublime quality about it that brings you to a different emotional realm, and suddenly you're lost in the beauty, you're lost in thought, if just for a moment."
Patricia is bringing that experience to her new role at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre as the official curator for Cancer and the Arts — an initiative that aims to promote respite, contemplation and healing by showcasing various installations across the hospital from diverse Canadian artists.
Cancer and the Arts is part of the Princess Margaret's efforts to improve the well-being of patients, families and caregivers through a holistic lens.
"Visits to the cancer center are distressing to many patients and their families for a variety of reasons," says Dr. Gary Rodin, Director of the Global Institute of Psychosocial, Palliative and End-of-Life Care (GIPPEC) and the Cancer Experience Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
"The design and aesthetics of the setting, with art that is uplifting and representative of the diverse communities of our patients, can have a positive and transformative effect on the state of mind and well-being of everyone who receives or provides care there."
The first step in realizing the importance of environment at the Princess Margaret was the renovation of the main floor in 2019. Between the sparkly white floors, the open-space concept and the stunning architecture, Patricia almost forgot she was attending an appointment for cancer treatment.
"I was so taken by how gorgeous and dreamy the atmosphere was," says Patricia, comparing the hospital to the likes of an art gallery.
"I didn't feel like a sick person. It felt like a second home."
Now, as part of the Cancer and the Arts team, Patricia is enhancing that visceral experience by selecting art that's symbolic of the feelings and themes important to cancer patients and their journeys. These include subject matters such as community, strength, resilience, hope and beauty.
"For us, it's really important not just visually, but conceptually, to walk into the cancer centre and see a work of art that addresses inclusivity, but is also hopeful, expressive and engaging in sometimes surprising ways," says Patricia.
The selections also aim to promote cultural safety by featuring artists from different communities, all of which have been affected by cancer in some respect.
"We strive to bring artwork into the cancer centre that reflects the unique backgrounds and experiences of our patients," says Meena Merali, Director of Strategy & Transformation at the Princess Margaret. "By showcasing art from a variety of communities, we aim to create a more diverse and inclusive environment that resonates with everyone who comes through our doors."
The Cancer and the Arts team hopes the selections speak to patients in a way that holds true to them, while encouraging others to reflect on the Princess Margaret demographic at large and how different cultures interpret things such as community care and grief.
"There's a darkness in the cancer journey that people often don't want to address, but it's something that we as patients face all the time and can't outrun," says Patricia, emphasizing the sense of understanding, unity and connection patients can experience when interpreting such a work of art.
"For me, flowers have always been a symbol of hope and beauty that's uplifted me throughout my cancer journey, especially gardens at night," she says.
Patricia says the team is careful not to pick anything that's too sensory or disorienting. They try to create a sense of calmness by featuring colours such as blue and green, and elements of nature.
Patricia says this can help patients cope with the anxiety and anticipation of treatment or test results.
"Looking at something comforting can break those patterns of negative thinking and provide relief, if even just for a moment," she says.
So far, the Cancer and the Arts team has brought numerous artworks and sculptures to the hospital and is looking to help create more immersive installations, including a community gallery which will highlight patient voices.
The newest selection adorns the main floor hallway of the cancer centre. It's an immersive photo installation that depicts a garden as a beautiful sanctuary, something the artist believed to be both a necessity for survival and pre-cursor to well-being.
