Ted Meyer, founder of “Art and Med,” and Pamela Schoenberg, owner/director of dnj Gallery, are excited to announce their exhibition “Breath-Taking.” The forthcoming exhibitions and lecture series present a joint effort aimed at enhancing education, raising awareness, and fundraising for specific chronic health conditions.

In 2021, Schoenberg pursued further education in nutrition and healthy living at Cornell University, driven by her interest in nutrition and prevention.  Inspired by her family's experience with chronic illness, she explored the impact of diet on health, leading her to become an ADAPT certified functional Health Coach through the Kresser Institute.

In October 2023, Schoenberg discovered the exhibit “Art and Med” at the Torrance Art Museum, curated by Ted Meyer.  Meyer, artist-in-residence at the U.S.C. Keck School of Medicine, organizes exhibitions and discussions highlighting the health condition of a patient/artist side by side with a recognized medical professional. Meyer's efforts bridge the gap between art and medicine, providing a platform for patient voices often overlooked in traditional galleries.

With a new desire to explore this deeper understanding and to teach through art, Schoenberg decided to redirect the mission of dnj Gallery from solely commercial to a space with a more charitable and educational purpose.  She will also offer health coaching to the artists/patients during this exhibit.  This transformation reflects Schoenberg’s commitment to utilizing art as a tool to support individuals with chronic illnesses.

Their first exhibition focuses on Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a chronic disease that damages your lungs, digestive tract, and other organs. This exhibit will display the artwork of Dylan Mortimer, Dominic Quagliozzi and an invited group of artists from the CF community from around the globe.  Mortimer’s artwork demonstrates a juxtaposition between “absolute trauma and absolute joy,” to highlight the feelings of gratitude and hope. His artwork is constructed with materials such as resin, glitter and colored glass, to present this range of emotions.  Quagliozzi’s pieces examine his own healing experiences as a jumping off point to construct his statements.  He produces his art through various media, with a focus on drawing, painting and performance.  The remaining artists in this group also create their art as a response to their lived experiences with CF.

The dnj gallery is located at 3015 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405. For more information, visit dnjgallery.net .