Health Aesthetics Panel at Rice University & Gold Humanism Summit

Written By Vinson Valega

In March, I had a wonderful time participating in the “Health Aesthetics” panel discussion at Rice University’s Medical Humanities Research Institute. Organized by lecturer Travis Alexander, the panel celebrated the opening of an exhibition by artist Pato Hebert. With scholar and educator Amanda Caleb, we discussed the role of the visual arts in medical education and health care, and the role of artists in examining the social dimensions of illness and health. Pato’s sculptures, photographs and text works reflected his experience of long COVID, navigating the healthcare system and holistic approaches to healing, and recuperating in community with others living with chronic illness.

In late February, I was glad to attend the Gold Humanism Summit in Atlanta to introduce a keynote speaker for the conference—Jefferson Humanities & Health Artist-in-Residence Josh Robinson. A teaching artist and percussionist, Josh has worked with my program since 2017, leading a popular improvisational drumming class for students at Sidney Kimmel Medical College and facilitating ‘healing sound’ workshops for patients at Jefferson’s Methodist Hospital. It was an honor to introduce Josh before his interactive keynote presentation, which had Gold Summit attendees on their feet and drumming together.

Vinson Valega

Vinson Valega is a Media Producer, Jazz Musician & Activist.

He is a full-time freelancer attracted to compelling ideas told through creative storytelling.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics in 1987, he moved to New York and immediately fell in love with the city. In the 1990s, Vinson studied jazz performance at the Mannes College of Music (now part of the New School) and began his freelance music career. Around that time, he began booking live jazz ensembles for corporate and private events through his newly minted music agency, Just Jazz.

In 2003, his activism took off when he began blogging and making original jazz recordings accompanied by his liner notes focused on social change. Then in 2009, he turned his music label, Consilience Productions, into a 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Organization that uses music to increase civic engagement.

As his music career was proceeding, he simultaneously began working as a Project Manager on large-scale public art commissions by his wife, artist Sharon Louden. Then in 2014 after graduating from a video journalism program at the Columbia University School of Journalism, he founded Mill City Profiles, a video production company dedicated to telling important personal stories using moving images. In 2016 he added to his portfolio of creative skills by becoming a Squarespace specialist, designing beautiful mobile-friendly websites for creatives, non-profits, and small businesses.

Vinson now lives in Jackson Heights, Queens with Sharon.

http://www.vinsonvalega.com
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Helix Gallery – Now open in Center City, Philadelphia