VoiceAmerica Radio/ Healing the Grieving Heart (3 September 2009)
Rewriting Our Grief Story,  Psychologists Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley talk with Nancy Gershman about her work on VoiceAmerica Radio,    listen online   listen on iTunes (podcast #26)

Advance for Nurses (24 June 2009)
Positive Visualization: Photomontage helps individuals cope with grief by Rachel Christophe Baker, Director of Cultural and Educational Development, Hektoen Institute of Medicine, Chicago   view online

Sun-Times News Group (21 Dec 2006)
Art With The Power To Heal by Patrick Butler/Staff Writer view pdf

Chicago Jewish News / Arts & Entertainment (15 Sept 2006)
Pictures That Heal: Dreamscapes Can Help Turn Pain into Joy by Pauline Dubkin Yearwood, Managing Editor view online or pdf

    Published Work

Hektoen International, A Journal of Medical Humanities:
  Campaigning for Craig: The Healing Power of a Legacy T-shirt (2010) 
  Lost Babies: How a Photosculpture is Changing the Etiquette of Consolation (2008)

Living With Loss Magazine: 
  Dreamscaping: Reflections on a New Medium in Grief Recovery, Therapeutic Photomontage  (Fall 2007)  view pdf 
  Adrian: Patron Saint of the Castlebuilders (Summer 2009)  view pdf

 

Documentary

View the 4-part film "The Therapeutic Photomontages of Nancy Gershman" by Agnieska Ziemacka-Masters on YouTube (14:45). Ziemacka-Masters also directed the short documentary about Magdalena Abakanowicz's sculptural grouping "Agora," a public art project located at the south end of Grant Park in Chicago.

 

Exhibits

Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA), Chicago: "Dreamscaping: The Therapeutic Photomontages of Nancy Gershman" (Nov-Jan 2009)   view exhibit virtually

"Digital artist Nancy Gershman is a private mythologist. Through the transformative power of digital photographic manipulation, she creates custom, wishful reality for people in emotional pain. Her healing dreamscapes are surrealistic and often ironic photomontages that repurpose personal photographs to create meaning and address a sense of loss, regret or dutyLike a soothing dream, they are used to tell stories, heal broken hearts, open dialogue and mend relationships."

LUMA press release      TimeOut Chicago review

 

Talks & Workshops

In-Service talks:

Resurrection Medical Center: "Healing Memory: The Art & Science of Prescriptive Visualization" (Feb 2009)

Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter, Lunch n' Learn: "Healing Memory: Prescriptive Visualization in Bereavement Care" (Feb 2009)

The Hektoen Institute of Medicine/ Pain Society and Nurses & The Humanities, Panel Discussion: "Making New Meanings: Creative Relief in Managing Emotional Pain" (May 2008)

Children's Memorial Hospital / Heartlight Services, "The Legacy Work of Nancy Gershman and Todd Hochberg" (June 2007)

Talks open to the public:

 

Hektoen Society/ Nurses & The Humanities, Art Talk: "A Burst of Sunshine: Positive Visualization through Photomontage" (Feb 2009)

Hektoen Society/ Medical History & The Humanities, Art Talk: "Therapeutic Photomontage: Wishful Reality for Countering Loss" (April 2008)

Joliet Area Community Hospice, Heartland Home Health Care & Hospice and
Elmhurst Memorial Home Health & Hospice (November 2007), Art Talk: "Do It Yourself Wishful Reality"

 

Talks to congregations:

St. Patrick Church | St. Charles, IL (May 2009), "Healing Memory with Therapeutic Photomontage." See "The Love of My Life: Creating the Perfect Memory of George and Barbara Horna" (The Gentle Word/St. Patrick Bereavement Ministry, Spring 2010)  view pdf

Rodef Shalom | Pittsburgh, PA (Sept 2008), "Moving from Intention to Action"

achurch4me? | Chicago, IL,  "Un-Label Yourself : The Therapeutic Artwork of Nancy Gershman" (Sept 2007) and "Healing Memory: Breaking the Power of the Past through Art and Story (April 2010)

Congregation Etz Chaim | Lombard, IL (April 2007), "Life-Changing Heirlooms: The Artwork of Nancy Gershman"

Anshe Emet Synagogue | Chicago, IL (Sept 2006)
  See letter of recommendation from Sheri Simon Cupkovic, Sisterhood President

 

Workshops:

Unity Hospice of Chicagoland, "Hope for the Holidays/ Carry-On Boxes" (Nov 2007)
  Read letter of recommendation from Chaplain Al Warren of Unity Hospice

Illinois Art Therapy Association (27th Annual Conference) Creative Vision: Emerging Genres in Art Therapy, "Healing Dreamscapes: Therapeutic Photomontage" (Jan 2007)   Read IATA attendee comments

Anshe Emet Synagogue, Healing Dreamscapes Workshop: Photo-collage and Narrating Your Dreamscape" (Jan 2005)
  See letter of recommendation from Rabbi Heather Altman

 

 

 Press Releases

 Art For Your Sake/ Celebration        Art For Your Sake/ Healing

 

 Charities

A strong supporter of many local and national charities, Nancy has contributed her time and artwork to numerous fundraisers including:

Alzheimer's Association
CNS Home Health and Hospice
Fairy Godmother Foundation
Heartland Alliance
Make a Wish Foundation
Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter
National Hospice Foundation
Northwestern Memorial Foundation/ Friends of Prentice
PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)