Hello everyone! My name is Reyhaneh Gheydi. I’m a graduate student in the Museum Education program at City College of New York. I was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. Art therapy is one of my life’s passions. Since I remember as a child, I was naturally drawn to activities that could improve the physical or emotional well-being of my family and friends, especially when they were sick, I did all my effort to help them to recover soon. This passion led me to study biomedical engineering as an undergrad in order to be part of the medical community and help improve society’s health. Music and sports were also a big part of my life, with traditional Persian instruments, Santur and Tombak, and volleyball being my favorites. I’m passionate about traditional songs and Persian poems. Also, participating in group activities is my life interest. When I began working as an intern in a hospital, I always thought about Patients’ social-emotional needs and how art can enhance their well-being to accept their situation and find a possibility of personal growth in their new circumstances. I realized the need for art to humanize the medical system and improve patients’ experiences. I noticed how people who stay in hospitals for a long time need to be heard and express their emotions and talk about their life experience and their narrative and not just be seen as patients. I found that art can be a tool for giving them these opportunities and freedom, so I decided to change my path and pursue my education in art studies when I was in my home country. Then hereafter continuing my studies in Museum Education with a focus on the art in health/ healing contexts for patients in hospitals. I hope my research will contribute to the field of art education/museum education and help educators or museums benefit from the healing power of art to promote patients’ well-being in hospitals.
Some sources to investigate:
https://doi.org/10.1080/10598650.2021.2021490
https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2022.2032224
Arts in Medicine – NYC Health + Hospitals (nychealthandhospitals.org)
Here is a photo of mine from the first month I started my work at the Whitney Museum of American Art. I pinned it on the memory board I have in my room.
