Canadians Debate Religious Hospital Art

BC Local News
February 8-17, 2011

This artwork by Bonny Graham-Krulicki is on display at CGH.

On Feb. 14 Mrs. Van Eysinga wrote a Letter to Editor with concern about a Feb. 8 article describing the inclusion of aboriginal art in the display at the local community's expanded Chilliwack Hospital. In response, W. Gruenwald wrote back to take issue with her concern. Next, in a Feb. 17 Letter to the Editor, Mr. Tom Hartley responded that he draws a distinction between religious and spiritual art, "however, since it is arguably all in the eye of the beholder. But if we are to have any art at all in our hospital? and we should since art helps us heal in ways doctors cannot? then there must be some consensus as to what constitutes “religious” and potentially objectionable art. Otherwise, for those who quote injunctions against the creation of idols from the Bible and the Qur’an, as does Mrs. Van Eysinga, most anything could be construed to be an immoral object of worship."