Baycrest

"When I first visited Baycrest, it was incredible. There is art everywhere… and so many spaces where you can just stop, sit, take in the colours and meditate. I love the fact that they integrate art into their care. It is so needed," she says. Beyond that, Comrie says that the abundance of art at Baycrest means it's one of the few healthcare campuses she can visit without feeling anxious. In her youth, she had very negative experiences with hospitals, particularly waiting rooms, while visiting sick family members or waiting for her own exams. "I was terrified of hospitals my whole life. I remember sitting in an exam room and seeing the other patients, all women, also waiting their turns… the room was grey and black. You could see the tension on everyone's faces, and you could feel the stress and anxiety," she recalls. "That was another moment where I knew that hospitals and care facilities would benefit from more colour. Art should be a part of a hospital setting, because it improves how people feel and makes them feel welcome. And Baycrest is doing that!" Jacquie Comrie is a multidisciplinary Toronto- based artist and mental health advocate. Whether as murals on buildings, large scale structures or canvases, her vibrant body of work is a dynamic exploration of colour as a universal language of human emotion. With mental health issues on the rise across the globe, colour is her medium of social impact helping to create inclusive, colourful spaces of mental reset to ultimately help improve the lives of all individuals, one wall at a time. Comrie's brain sculpture "Compartmentalization" can be seen as part of the 2019 Yogen Früz Brain Project. For more information or to purchase the sculpture, visit www.brainproject.ca I nternationally-recognized artist Romero Britto's optimism and activism are perfectly aligned with the objectives of the 2019 Yogen Fruz Brain Project. The Brazilian-born artist uses vibrant colours and bold patterns as a visual expression of hope, dreams and happiness. He also dedicates his time and talent to charitable organizations and causes around the world, and was inspired to contribute a sculpture to this year's Brain Project, which raises awareness and much-needed funds for brain health and groundbreaking research on dementia and aging at Baycrest. Britto's work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in over 100 countries. A believer in the role of an artist as an agent of positive change, he is committed to developing and supporting the role art will continue to play in world issues. The Brain Project is fortunate to be displaying his brain sculpture titled, A Beautiful Mind. The piece showcases the inspired brain – full of colour and sparkle – with love radiating from the central focal point. A self-taught artist, Britto has created public art installations for the Mercedes-Benz Arena Berlin (formerly the 0 2 Arena), New York's John F. Kennedy Airport, Cirque Du Soleil at Super Bowl XLI, and the largest monumental sculpture in London's Hyde Park history. BrainMatters FALL/WINTER 2019 7 Artist Romero Britto showcases A Beautiful Mind ..

• Cover