A most interesting conversation

Important and telling words come from the most unsuspected directions. I’m having some work done on the house. As my brother says “Keep everything sale ready”. Not that we are going to sell, but keep your options open and enjoy the house in always "like new" condition - and enjoy the improvements. The owner of the company, (we’ll call him Jerry), doing the work stopped by to check on the job. He liked my sculpture and was quick to mention the pieces he liked in particular. He also was telling me about another sculptor in the area, Damian Prior. Damian’s works are all over the country.

We began to discuss art, life and surprises. Turns out Jerry is also a caregiver. He has a daughter born with complications (now grown) that took a tremendous amount of care and toll. He has been in the role of a caregiver for the majority of his life. He deals with stress by working - though even he says he doesn't need to work as much as he does. His team of workers is largely self sufficient and very good. They clean up as they go along and are incredibly fast. They'll be out of here in two days. Jerry is going to bring his wife out tomorrow to see my art. I’m flattered since she apparently is an artist by training. Jerry is also a caregiver to his wife. The stress of her caregiving to their child proved to be very tough on her.

While discussing art, life and surprises we covered a lot of ground in a short time. We quickly agreed that there is always someone who has it worse. There are lots of small joys in life if you keep your eyes open. There is a lot to be said for taking advantage of opportunities to take care of ones self. Bear down, stay focused and keep moving forward.

When Jerry was doing some work at Damian’s ranch he noted sculpture all over the place – sort of like it is here. Damian told him, “Oh, that’s just inventory. It will all go someplace”. I like that. Damian died last September at 61. He never complained about his cancer.

An interesting juxtaposition – Art and Healthcare

I’m in the middle of two fascinating worlds. On one side I am surrounded by art, on the other I am deep in the healthcare world. I’m involved with both for the same reason – passion.

When Annie was hospitalized I was unable to make sense of the healthcare system. The “nod and wink” billing, the unfathomable amount of waste and most of all the errors. I was left with the feeling I must try and do something that might have an impact in a positive way. And it is hard to do. Whenever there are huge volumes of financial “flow" there are even greater levels of resistance to change. Five years later I am immersed in the side of healthcare software that focuses, through competency, on improving patient outcomes. It is a rising tide. Cost cutting and legislation are having a negative impact on patient outcome. Skills checking, checklists and required maintenance for up to date skills are the counterbalancing positive.

There is a parallel to what I am doing in the art world. Maintaining ones skills in medicine requires didactic as well as “hands on” application. It is the same as making in art. I can read all I want but until I apply the learning to my process I do not improve. And the passion? Yes in both. I would never want anyone to go through what Annie went through just on errors in the day to day process of keeping her alive. Without diligence the mistakes made could have been fatal a number of times.

Checklists and competency training are key to a good outcome whether you're starting an IV, connecting a welder or turning on a table saw. Checklists, competency training and verification of skills have made the airlines very safe. The same needs to apply to medicine.

Now to work on those studio checklists…

Urban Bones - Those distressed rebar rods that come to the surface as we excavate for new construction. Makes an interesting table base.