End-of-Life University Ep. 494 Integrating Art and the End of Life with Rich Curtis
Learn how a hospice volunteer and doula utilizes his artistic talents to help patients and families.
My guest Rich Curtis is an artist, teacher, hospice volunteer and end-of-life doula. He currently volunteers for Archbold Hospice in Thomasville GA where he has utilized his artistic talents to help patients and their families at the end of life. Rich discusses his own path as an artist and eventually becoming a doula. He shares his drawings and tips for those considering being a hospice volunteer in this conversation. View Rich’s drawings at the link below or watch the video on YouTube to see them on screen:
This episode includes:
- Rich’s spiritual journey to becoming a doula
- How Buddhism encourages contemplation of death
- The value of teaching art students about death
- How Rich began drawing the hands of patients
- Why drawings of hands are a unique and powerful remembrance
- Life stories as told through images of hands
- Art as an opening to conversations with difficult patients
- The power of bringing our creative talents to the bedside of hospice patients
- Tips for hospice volunteers
- How Rich is creating “Breath Poems” from the sounds of end stage breathing
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Rich Curtis Facebook Page
- Rich’s Portfolio
- NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving
- Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death
- Get EOLU Podcast Merch here
- Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here
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