End Notes
Sense of Balance
By Katharine "Kaz" Nelson, M.D.
I approach art both as a means of self-expression and as a way to produce a tangible product. I like having something that I can hold in my hand or hang on the wall that reflects my creativity. In psychiatry, the outcome of my efforts may not be evident for weeks or months, and goals for clinical improvement can be modest, depending on the disorder. But with art, it’s quite the opposite. My artwork is usually completed in a few hours. Painting and drawing complement my medical practice, giving me an overall sense of personal balance.
My background in art is somewhat limited when compared with the important role it plays in my life. I took art courses in high school and at the University of Minnesota, Morris, where I was fortunate to work with an excellent professor, Kevin Flicker. A highlight of my work with him was making Raku pottery. We dug a hole in the ground in the forest and for hours tended a fire in which we fired the porcelain. I treasure the pieces that we created that day and will probably never have an opportunity like that again. I’d like to take up ceramics again; but with a resident’s schedule, I accept the rare moments that I find to paint.
For this painting, I started with a loose concept regarding the relationship between color and line. As the piece developed, the four lines that intersect with the border reminded me of the Christian crucifix. The piece is not meant to be overtly religious. I titled it “The Innocent Man” to convey the more historical and universal connotation of blamelessness. MM
Katharine Nelson is chief resident of the University of Minnesota’s psychiatry residency program.