Columbia Memorial | Health Compass | Fall 2019

Healing arts NEW SEASIDE CLINIC TO FEATURE LOCAL ARTISTS Kyla Sjogren, fiber arts Sjogren grew up near cotton fields in Florida but had no idea then how the cotton on the plant was transformed into clothing. After teaching herself to sew and make clothes in her 20s, she entered the fashion design industry. Wanting to explore different art mediums, she kept going back to fabric and textiles. She took a weaving workshop on a whim. “As soon as I sat at a loom, I felt at home,” Sjogren says. “That was the machine that would enable me to express myself.” Sjogren creates art from natural fibers, such as wool, linen, cotton and hemp, using pigments from plants and insects to dye them. She uses weave structure and color to create textures that form compositions. Sjogren says she has no choice but to live by the coast—it’s a magnet that constantly draws her. For the Seaside clinic, she created the fiber art piece “Either Way,” a seascape that looks out on the horizon. The ocean, with its vastness, equalizes the playing field in life, she says, and puts everything into perspective. “I think some pieces of art can really give you hope, as a maker and as a viewer,” she says. “Not everybody has access to these special places [like the coast], and art can give you access no matter where you are. That has the ability to change your mindset and give you hope.” 4 HEALTH COMPASS FALL 2019 A medicine is defined as a substance used to treat or alleviate symptoms from a disease. CMH values artwork as an integral part of the healing process—a medicine, for patients and caregivers. Art by several South Clatsop County artists will play a large part in creating the healing environment in the new CMH Medical Group–Seaside, opening in January 2020. These commissioned pieces will reflect the spirit of the community and CMH’s person-centered values. Join us as we meet some of the artists who contributed to the project. To see more of Sjogren’s work, visit the Fourth Street Gallery in Manzanita or kylasjogren.com .