Rhode Island Foundation
Artist’s legacy promotes arts and healing
“Every human must cope with immense challenges throughout life, but art ultimately gives us hope and a way to celebrate our journeys together while discovering voices we may never know we had," states Kathy King who directs an art program at Providence’s McAuley House where, she continues, “hundreds of pieces of art have been produced over the years – reflecting the potential of artistic expression as a source for empowerment, healing, and connection.”
Her thinking, says Dr. Robert Westlake, is well-aligned with that of his late wife, internationally-recognized visual artist and lecturer Christiane Corbat Westlake. And it is why the Westlake and Corbat families have helped fund the McAuley House Art Program through the Christiane Corbat Art and Healing Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation.The families established the donor advised fund following Christiane’s death in 2006 at age 61 “to promote a continuation of her vision by supporting projects that further the practice and integration of arts and healing.” The fund has also honored Christiane’s legacy through support of symposia on art and healing at Salve Regina University and the University of Rhode Island, a healing inspired dance performance at Festival Ballet Providence, a healing arts initiative at Butler Hospital, the preservation and dissemination of knowledge about Native American healing ways at Tomaquag Museum, and the establishment of an endowed fund for art and healing at the library of Rhode Island School of Design.
Dr. Westlake comments, “Although the fund is relatively small and the field of interest narrow, during the last 10 years we have found many projects of promise that have been able to benefit from our support. It’s allowed our family to help continue Christiane’s artistic vision and encourage further exploration in the field of art and healing.”
