PROVIDENCE – An artist who began painting as he struggled with obsessive-compulsive disorder for years recently donated a collection of his paintings to Butler Hospital, where he has been treated over the years, and he is working on offering art classes at the hospital.
Jeffrey M. Sparr, a local entrepreneur, announced his donation at an event Nov. 19 during which he created one more painting, “The Peace Man,” before a live audience.
The donated paintings, which include works from his “Mind” and “Peace Love” series, will decorate spaces in which he has received treatment over the years during his own battle and recovery with OCD, the hospital said.
“I turned to painting as an outlet from my daily struggle with OCD,” Sparr said in a news release. “I soon discovered that when I paint, my symptoms are minimized and I’m able to gain a sense of relief from the illness. Painting provides me a creative outlet and a sense of control that helps me find peace of mind. Having my artwork hang on the walls at Butler for all patients to see will hopefully inspire them to find their own outlet to help them cope with whatever challenges they are facing.”
Dr. Patricia Ryan Recupero, president and CEO of Butler, said Sparr’s accomplishments “serve as a symbol of hope to all of our patients struggling with mental illness.”
“We thank him for his ongoing support of Butler Hospital,” she added, “and know his artwork will inspire all who see it.”
Sparr has begun to develop an interactive painting curriculum to offer classes at Butler and also for other hospitals, schools and other facilities to adopt similar programs.
“Through the art classes, I hope that I can help other patients find a creative release like I have done through painting,” said Sparr. “I have experienced firsthand how therapeutic painting can be, and I hope others will benefit from it as well.”
Founded in 1844, Butler Hospital is Rhode Island’s only private, nonprofit psychiatric and substance abuse hospital for adults, adolescents, children and seniors and is part of the Care New England Health System. It is affiliated with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and is the flagship for its department of psychiatry. For more information, go to www.butler.org.
