June 15, 2009

Religious Art Collection on Display at BroMenn

Through the month of June, BroMenn Healthcare Spiritual Care Services will offer visitors an exclusive opportunity to view a collection of 24 unique stoles, which are liturgical vestments that consist of long strips of colored material and include distinctive designs, symbols, or text that relate to a particular theme, color, or season.

The stoles in the collection are on loan from various clergy members who have connections to the BroMenn or Bloomington-Normal community and can be viewed on all three floors of the Atrium at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, 1304 Franklin Ave., Normal. Many of the stoles are homemade and have a special significance and to the clergy member to whom they belong. The stories and history behind each vestment can be found next to their corresponding stole.

"Many clergy stoles are really wearable works of art that carry deep spiritual meaning" said Rev. Mollie Ward, a chaplain at BroMenn. "The exhibit seemed like an appropriate way not only to further the 'Art in the Atrium' mission, but also to highlight BroMenn's faith-based roots."

The exhibit is part of BroMenn Spiritual Care Services' "Art in the Atrium" series, which has a mission to "improve the health and well-being of our communities by presenting visual displays of art in order to educate, foster relationships, and encourage spiritual reflection at the crossroads of art, health, and healing."

For further information on the exhibit, please contact Rev. Mollie Ward at (309) 268-2116.