Spirit Raising Art Project for Mark Livingston Called a Success

One of the cards created for Dr. Livingston Saturday at the Art Explorium. (Submitted photo)

The Art Explorium in Tillett Gardens opened its studio doors Saturday to give the community a chance to stop by and share a photo, make a card, create a drawing, color a picture, make a collage, or create a painting to decorate the walls of Dr. Mark Livingston’s new rehabilitation room.

Art Explorium owner, Amy Gibbs, was there to help and encourage people of all ages to find their creativity and share it with the much-respected and loved physician.

In November 2017 Livingston underwent heart surgery. His family’s home had been lost in that fall’s hurricanes. After returning to St. Thomas to begin his recovery, in early 2019 Livingston was again sent to the states for unexpected emergency surgery that was performed on Valentine’s Day. During that second surgery he suffered a stroke.

In a text to his patients, Livingston’s wife Kirstyn explained that Dr. Livingston faced a long and unpredictable period of recovery.

Gibbs said that though the family was in need of financial support after their considerable losses, Kirstyn said it was Mark’s spirits that could use upliftng even more. That’s when Gibbs decided to open her studio to the event. In a phone interview on Sunday Gibbs said the project was a great success. She added, it is not a one-time shot. “You can’t just do this once and forget about it,” noting that Livingston’s recovery will be long and slow. “I hope to do this every couple of months.”

Livingston and his wife Kirstyn have lived on St. Thomas since 2006. Their children, 11-year-old Maya and nine-year-old Owen, were born on St. Thomas and attend school on the island.

Gibbs said Kirstyn and Mark’s children will deliver the cards and artwork personally next week when they visit Mark during spring break.