Art and Spirituality Center - Mercy & Memorial Hospitals

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Bakersfield, CA
Art and Spirituality Center - Mercy & Memorial Hospitals

Home to a variety of workshops, we offer opportunities to experience the healing benefits that may come from creative expression.

Through various programs, the Art and Spirituality Center offers community members opportunities to experience the healing benefits that may come from creative expression.

08/02/2025

S A V E T H E D A T E!
October 4th from 2-4 PM

The Art and Spirituality Center is celebrating 15 years of service! Our founder, Sr. Sherry Dolan, envisioned offering our community creative experiences in a sacred space that promotes healing and wholeness, at no cost to them. Early in 2010, this vision was brought to life as the Art and Spirituality Center opened its doors, welcoming the first of countless community members into our sacred space to experience the freedom of letting go and being in the moment while reaping the benefits of the creative process through its Art for Healing programs. Over the years, the Center has offered many types of creative workshops from soundbaths to painting to writing, and everything in between. In addition to our community workshops, we offer a variety of creative experiences to our patients and their loved ones in our hospitals via the Art Cart, Acoustic Remedies, and the Threshold Choir programs, taking the healing power of the arts directly to the bedside of our patients.

On October 4th from 2-4 PM, we will celebrate a powerful and impactful 15 years, and invite our entire community to attend. This will be an open house-style event, so come by any time.

Whether you have participated in our programs or want to learn more, we invite you to attend to experience a taste of Art for Healing, reflecting on all we've accomplished over the past 15 years, and celebrating all that's to come.

We will also be holding a week for special workshops leading up to this celebratory event. Stay tuned for more information. We look forward to celebrating with you.

08/01/2025

Happy August, everyone!

August represents a time of transition, harvest, new beginnings, and, of course, celebration. Let's honor our staff and volunteers celebrating a birthday or anniversary this month. We are so grateful for their specialized, dedicated, and ongoing support. From the bottom of our hearts, we are beyond thankful for all the meaningful ways you help our programs thrive. Thank you for your compassion in promoting healing through the arts with your passion, innovation, and humankindness. From our Art for Healing program to the Bakersfield Threshold Singers, Art Cart, and Acoustic Remedies, healing is happening in the lives of countless people in our hospitals and our community. Thank you for all the ways you bring hope, healing, and wholeness through your gifts and talents. May your special days be filled with joy and the warmth of the summer sun!

07/22/2025

Happy Music & Meditation day!
Our July video is now available for you to listen to and enjoy! We hope you will use this video to bring a sense of peace to your busy mind. Meditation is a tool to help people become more present by connecting the mind and body while enhancing self-awareness and reducing stress. Throughout each video in this series, listeners are guided through meditation with live ambient music and relaxing sounds. We encourage you to find a quiet, comfortable setting where you can watch, listen, relax, and join in as we redirect our thoughts and calm our minds.

How has Music & Meditation impacted you? We welcome you to share your stories of healing and wholeness with us via email at mhb-artforhealing@commonspirit.org.

We hope this video brings you peace and healing.

👇Watch and listen now on YouTube👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWa-XxqLEbM

You may access all Music & Meditation videos via YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/. We invite you to subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts and experiences.

07/14/2025

M E E T O U R T E A M
Featuring Diana Ramirez

Diana Ramirez joined the Art and Spirituality Center in 2025. She is a poetry and writing workshop facilitator and mindfulness teacher with eleven years of experience in the nonprofit sector, where her passion for connection and impact took root. Creating genuine connections fuels her spirit, and she aspires to plant seeds of inspiration in others. Her poetic journey began in adolescence, but along life’s journey and detours, her writing path was inconsistent – a time when she didn’t fully realize the importance of dedicated time for self-expression as an act of self-love. This journey was recently recognized in 2024 with the California Arts Council Emerging Artist Fellowship. Ultimately, her work seeks to reconnect us with our shared humanity. Diana currently facilitates workshops for a diverse range of individuals, including incarcerated youth, youth formerly in foster care, individuals in substance abuse and recovery programs, and breast cancer survivors. She has been a CASA volunteer since 2011 and has also mentored through the RAMP initiative at CSUB. Evolving alongside her two sons, who provide daily inspiration for growth, Diana is now fully embracing the identity of “creative.” Eight years into her volunteer journey, she was deeply inspired by Father Greg Boyle’s quote: “It is kinship and connection that ultimately heals people.”

07/08/2025

We are thrilled about the addition of our grant-funded Contemplative Christian Meditation program, offered throughout 2025. In order to maximize this offering, we will be holding one in-person workshop per month and one Zoom workshop per month on select Mondays from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM.

In-person workshops offered on: 8/4, 9/22, 10/6, 11/3 & 12/1
Zoom workshops offered on: 7/14, 8/18, 9/29, 10/20, 11/17 & 12/15

The goal of this program is to encourage meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer allows us to center and spend time with God, who loves us. Many studies have shown that Christian Meditation can have a positive impact on relieving anxiety and stress. Through this workshop, you gain a deeper understanding of God’s will for your life and receive guidance to find peace. Spending time in God’s presence and taking time to reflect inward has a glorious effect on our lives. Christian meditation can help build healthy habits of spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness. This program is made possible by a grant from the Trust for the Meditation Process©, a charitable foundation encouraging meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer. To learn more about this foundation, please visit www.TrustForMeditation.org. This program is facilitated by Gwen Mitchell.

To register for an upcoming workshop, please email us @ mhb-artforhealing@commonspirit.org, or call our Art Registration line @ 661-632-5747.

07/02/2025

Introducing our newest program: Poetic Sanctuary

Available every Monday starting on July 14th from 1-3 PM at the Art and Spirituality Center

Join us as we step into a space where words spark self-discovery. Each workshop explores diverse themes inspired by a poem designed to stir thought and connection. We'll collectively discuss what resonates and challenges us, then use guided writing exercises and prompts to illuminate your own experiences. This program offers space for authentic expression; write freely, letting your voice emerge organically. Empowering affirmations and inspiring quotes will support your writing journey. We'll conclude with an open invitation to share your writing, celebrating vulnerability and the power of your unique story. Come ready to listen, reflect, and uncover the narratives within you. Facilitated by Diana Ramirez.

To register for an upcoming workshop, please email us @ mhb-artforhealing@commonspirit.org, or call our Art Registration line @ 661-632-5747.

We kindly ask that you register for our workshops no more than one month in advance and only register for workshops you are sure to attend. We look forward to your participation!

07/01/2025

🥳 Happy July!
Let's honor our staff and volunteers celebrating a birthday or anniversary this month. We are so grateful for their specialized, dedicated, and ongoing support. From the bottom of our hearts, we are beyond thankful for all the meaningful ways you help our programs thrive. Thank you for your compassion in promoting healing through the arts with your passion, innovation, and humankindness. From our Art for Healing program to the Bakersfield Threshold Singers, Art Cart, and Acoustic Remedies, healing is happening in the lives of countless people in our hospitals and our community. Thank you for all the ways you bring hope, healing, and wholeness through your gifts and talents. May your special days be filled with the warmth and joy of summer!

06/12/2025

Happy Music & Meditation day!

Our May video is now available for you to listen to and enjoy! We hope you will use this video to bring a sense of peace to your busy mind. Meditation is a tool to help people become more present by connecting the mind and body while enhancing self-awareness and reducing stress. Throughout each video in this series, listeners are guided through meditation with live ambient music and relaxing sounds. We encourage you to find a quiet, comfortable setting where you can watch, listen, relax, and join in as we redirect our thoughts and calm our minds.

How has Music & Meditation impacted you? We welcome you to share your stories of healing and wholeness with us via email at mhb-artforhealing@commonspirit.org.

We hope this video brings you peace and healing.
👇Watch and listen now on YouTube👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRmb7QLX1ws

You may access all Music & Meditation videos via YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/. We invite you to subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts and experiences.

05/29/2025

M E E T O U R T E A M
Featuring John Irwin

John Irwin is a professional musician and a music teacher with over 10 years of experience. He joined the Art and Spirituality Center in 2024 as a Music Specialist in the Acoustic Remedies program and, since then, has played music for hundreds of patients with a wide array of diagnoses and from all walks of life. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Recording Arts from Full Sail University in 2023. Over the past 10 years, he has spread music from the West Coast to the East Coast, touring and playing in over 20 states. He has recorded on over 100 songs and played in several music groups. John loves all kinds of music and is passionate about spreading love through all forms of creative expression.

05/28/2025

Summer is here, and it's time to celebrate our staff and volunteers celebrating a birthday or anniversary in June (a few days early 😉)

We are so grateful for their specialized, dedicated, and ongoing support. From the bottom of our hearts, we are beyond thankful for all the meaningful ways you help our programs thrive. Thank you for your compassion in promoting healing through the arts with your passion, innovation, and humankindness. From our Art for Healing program to the Bakersfield Threshold Singers, Art Cart, and Acoustic Remedies, healing is happening in the lives of countless people in our hospitals and our community. Thank you for all the ways you bring hope, healing, and wholeness through your gifts and talents. We wish you health and happiness that lasts the whole year through!

05/21/2025

M E E T O U R T E A M
FEATURING Joni Haupt

Joni Haupt joined the Art and Spirituality Center in January 2024 as a Music Specialist in the Acoustic Remedies program, bringing the healing gift of music to patients and their loved ones in their time of processing complex emotions and treatment. Having experience in playing jazz, rock, metal, country, and blues, Joni brings a dynamic and personal experience to the patients at Mercy Downtown and Mercy Southwest hospitals. Joni believes music and art are an invitation to be vulnerable; an invitation to feel the places you can't reach with conversation. Whether it's helping someone release heavy emotions or simply making someone smile, Joni is thrilled to have been given such an amazing opportunity to improve the well-being of others through music. When not playing in the hospital, you can find Joni teaching guitar lessons and playing in a local country-blues duo, Jean Coyote.

05/19/2025

Happy Music & Meditation Monday!
Our May video is now available for you to listen to and enjoy! We hope you will use this video to bring a sense of peace to your busy mind. Meditation is a tool to help people become more present by connecting the mind and body while enhancing self-awareness and reducing stress. Throughout each video in this series, listeners are guided through meditation with live ambient music and relaxing sounds. We encourage you to find a quiet, comfortable setting where you can watch, listen, relax, and join in as we redirect our thoughts and calm our minds.

How has Music & Meditation impacted you? We welcome you to share your stories of healing and wholeness with us via email at mhb-artforhealing@commonspirit.org.

We hope this video brings you peace and healing.
👇Watch and listen now on YouTube👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS1SZNTdE3c

You may access all Music & Meditation videos via YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/. We invite you to subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts and experiences.

Address

2215 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA
93301

Telephone

+16616325357

Website

http://dignityhealth.org/bakersfield/ArtForHealing

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