Art speaks to life in Zimbabwe
Brian Nichols' work provides glimspe of life at Howard Hospital
(PETERBOROUGH) This November, Brian Nichols will make his sixth trek to Zimbabwe and, more specifically, Howard Hospital.
A local psychotherapist, Nichols often works with children. But it's the youths at the rural hospital that really tug at his heart strings and, he hopes, yours too.
Until Sept. 30 at The Spill, 414 George St. N., Nichols' paintings and photographs are being displayed, each depicting life in a place where life is often all too short due to the ravages of HIV/AIDS.
At the 144-bed hospital, Nichols has spent much of his time in the children's ward -- playing music, painting and reading to the kids.
After each trip, he has returned to Peterborough and painted. Initially, those paintings mostly depicted coffins.
More recently, his work has provided a record of some of the stories the hospital has provided and explored what being there has meant to him.
As Nichols puts it, painting "deepens my understanding of the suffering so I can better connect with the people at Howard Hospital.
"The people on the wards offer such an amazing window from which to see if we are prepared to keep our eyes and our hearts wide open."
Peterborough and area residents have been generous to Howard Hospital with local financial support key in keeping its doors open.
Nichols is hopeful that those who come to The Spill to view his latest work will leave a donation behind.
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