Welcome to the Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program (AHP) newsletter. In this issue, we pay tribute to former artist-in-residence and Lombardi Comprehenisve Cancer Center patient Nevin Bossart and send out a call for poem submissions for the 21st volume of Lombardi Voices.

A Tribute to Nevin Bossart

Painter Nevin Bossart

Nevin Bossart's painting table in the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center patient waiting room was a first for the Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program. Initially we didn't think we should interrupt any activities relating to doctor and patient. Our programs took place in the lobby, as well as in cancer inpatient rooms in the hospital. Bringing the arts into a medical setting was a relatively new concept. There were territorial issues to address.

Nevin made it easy to resolve them. I met him in 2005 as a patient at Lombardi on 2 Bles (MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s Hematology and Oncology Department), the floor where cancer patients had their overnight stays. The social worker approached me. "There's a guy upstairs I think you should meet," she said. "He's thinking about bringing paints into his room to make good use of his time." I went up to the floor and met Nevin, the most affable person I have ever known. "Hi there!" he said cheerfully. I knew in an instant I was in good company. 

Nevin said he used to paint when he was younger, and thought painting would be a good way to pass the time while he was an inpatient. "Let's give it a try," I said, and in no time, Nevin and his wife Betsy, brought in paints and an easel, brushes, everything he needed to get started. Nevin kept his door open and soon every patient who walked the floor with their chemo pole was stopping by Nevin's room to see what was going on. He would paint and they would watch.

Before too long, Nevin set up areas for the patients to paint, occasionally taking over the nurses' station so the nurses could paint between their work with patients.

2 Bles became a painting destination. Sunflowers were the cheery theme. Everyone was involved. Nevin had a dish of cancer bracelets by the door for participants to wear. Now 2 Bles was a coveted place to be, and Nevin held court, much to everyone's delight.

Over time, Nevin had patients create murals, each section combining to make a full image that was displayed in the hallways. Nevin became one of the Arts and Humanities visiting artists, and paved the way for all sorts of new programs.

Nevin painting with a MGUH nurse

An early effort in his career as a Lombardi artist was the painting table in the patient waiting room. This was an area where people waited, often anxiously, for an appointment with their oncologist, generally to find out how they were doing with treatment, and what's next. We had always considered that sacred space and did not want to interrupt with any arts activities. Nevin suggested trying programs there to help people cope with their fears. As a patient, his voice had clout. He was so right! Nevin took everyone's mind off cancer and many people were painting for the first time and loving it! 

We set up a table with all the supplies and chairs so more than one person could paint. The table was right in the middle of the clinic waiting room, and was soon a popular destination for all, patients, families and staff! Nevin's teaching technique was very simple and easy to follow.

Nevin and MGUH nursing staff with sunflower mural

Each person created a beautiful sunflower that they were extremely proud of. Nevin transformed the somber clinic waiting room into a place of joy and discovery. The concern over invading a space for doctors and patients only, disappeared instantly. Even the doctors enjoyed the change in atmosphere, realizing the value of the arts in a cancer center - or anywhere!

Over the years, Nevin's territory expanded to the entire Georgetown

Hospital.

His murals are everywhere. Multiple staff groups begged for time with Nevin, which provided a welcome respite from working with sick people. 

The Arts and Humanities program was initially funded by a grant from Prince Charitable Trusts. The Prince family wanted programs to focus on staff, in recognition of their hard work and the significant contribution they made to the wellbeing of patients, including members of their own family. Nevin's painting with staff fulfilled the Prince's mandate.

Another popular staff program Nevin initiated was the monthly Staff Lunch. He prepared elaborate meals for staff off site, and brought them into the cancer center. People lined up well in advance for these coveted events that included an artist activity from the program. No one knew how he managed these large, popular events. Nevin's life work was in culinary arts. Events like this were second nature to him, and we were all so grateful. Painting, singing, gentle yoga, writing, therapeutic music, mask-making fill an hour’s time between delicious bites of food and light-hearted conversation. Inhibitions about art-making (I’m not talented!) disappear quickly as the joy of eating Nevin's meal and art-making take over.

Nevin made the cancer center more than a place of medical treatment. He made people feel they were still on the planet, still contributing, still trying new things and bringing beauty and life into the world. Lombardi wasn't just a great cancer center. It was a place where life-affirming projects, like painting and eating delicious food, were respected and incorporated into the life of the Center. Nevin led the way in terms of extending our projects to a broader hospital population with permanent visibility through his murals. Patients and staff embraced his work fully, and all were so grateful for the time spent with him. The Arts and Humanities program expanded tremendously with his initiatives. We are forever grateful for his time with us.

Call for Lombardi Voices Poem Submissions

We are now accepting submissions for Volume 21 of Lombardi Voices. Please submit no more than one poem to lombardiartsadmin@georgetown.edu by August 31st.

Please include the title of your poem, your full name, and the subject line "Lombardi Voices Submission" in your email.

Poems will be reviewed for inclusion and authors will be notified of acceptance by September 12th.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email AHP admin at lombardiartsadmin@georgetown.edu. 

The March 2024 edition of Lombardi Voices is currently available online. 

We look forward to receiving your poem submissions!

Previous editions of

Lombardi Voices

Lombardi Voices is supported by the Kathleen A. Beard Fund for the Arts and Humanities.

The Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program (AHP) promotes a holistic approach to healthcare for patients, caregivers, physicians, nurses, staff members, and students through the use of music, dance, expressive writing, and visual arts. These therapeutic modalities are normally provided throughout the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and online through Eventbrite courses. The AHP is a program of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Please consider making a gift of any size to support the AHP so we may continue to grow and provide arts and humanities programming for our wonderful communities.