While suffering cardiac arrests, Chaplain Harts patients stepped outside their bodies and felt the warm glow others have recounted.
Their near-death experiences inspired Hart?s abstract and realist paintings on display in Blessed Union of the Souls.
As the director of Spiritual Support Services at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Hart councils patients struggling with coronary disease and their families.
Quotes from his patients during the pJast 25 years will appear beside his work in the exhibit.
What material inspired this work?
The exhibit is based on the journey I have made as a companion with those who have had near-death or out-of-body experiences. Over the years, I have journaled the stories and reflections patients chose to tell me in recounting their experiences.
How did you turn your words and patients? words into paintings?
My creative process is a mystical experience much like patients? experiences who I have journeyed with. I?m a spiritual man, and my prayer and reflection becomes my creative inspiration. I think or pray, and that become ideas that I create on larger pieces of paper and canvas.
What do you want viewers to gain from the exhibit?
The experience will be an exploration into the sacred that allows opportunity to reflect on that which is beyond this life. Many call it peace, others call it heaven or paradise. Whatever or however you may describe it or dream it, it?s a place of wonder, exploration and new life. Each piece is numbered and has a quote from the patient who inspired me to create the image you will see.
What informed your color choices?
The color is inspired through patients and what they saw, an accurate representation of storytelling, if you will. They tell me they saw variety of colors, and I tried to honor their stories while interpreting [them] as an artist.
How have your patients responded to your artworks?
The exhibit has been 25 years in the making, and I didn?t keep in touch with all of the patients. I promised I would never reveal their names, but I did get their permission to use their quotes in creating my art.
IF YOU GO
The Blessed Union of Souls
When: April 14 through May 14
Where: Bon Secours Spiritual Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville
Info: 410-442-1320
