making art in medical school

Last night was this semester's first session of my 'Art & Anatomy' drawing seminar: drawing sessions for med students in the Anatomy Lab, where we draw from bones and from the cadavers that the students are (or soon will be) dissecting.  It's 'life drawing' with a twist – and part of what I've been doing since I became Artist in Residence in the Master Scholars Medical Humanism Program at the NYU School of Medicine, in 2008. This is the 3rd year of 'Art & Anatomy" and I really love doing it. I think of it as a drawing opportunity for the students, rather than a class, and of my role as a facilitator rather than a teacher. I'll write more about it soon (and you can see some of my own Anatomy Lab drawings here, especially in the Hand Dance series.

I make a point of telling the students that it's the process of drawing that's important, and not to worry too much about producing masterpieces but just get into the process itself.  But along the way, they have produced some wonderful work, and it will be great to show it off in an exhibition we're planning for later this year.