We’re coming to town with an exhibition of works!
What is Sudden Cardiac Art?
Sudden Cardiac Art is a joint venture between UK fine artist and heart warrior Charlie Kirkham and cardiac patient advocates Bethany and Hannah Keime of HeartCharged. Together, they aim to use the beauty of the female form in iconic pieces of art to demonstrate how to use AEDs (automated external defibrillators) on women.
Did you know that women are four times less likely to survive sudden cardiac arrest due their breasts?
More specifically, people’s unwillingness to expose them to save a life. Since 2020, HeartCharged have been brining awareness to this inequity through their social media channels, videos and courses.
Meanwhile, Charlie was going to galleries and being inundated with images of the female nude which were not only displayed, but celebrated. This led her to wonder why women’s bodies were on display in galleries to be looked at, yet people were afraid of the real thing in a moment where it could save a life.
Thus Sudden Cardiac Art was born.
Taking inspiration from iconic pieces of art history, including Boticelli’s Birth of Venus and Lucretia by Artemisia Gentileschi, SCArt aims to bring awareness to the importance of lifesaving CPR and AED placement on women, as well as highlighting the skill of many incredible artists.
About HeartCharged
HeartCharged founders Hannah and Bethany Keime were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), whilst in high school. Both girls were extremely athletic and HCM is the #1 killer of student athletes. It is asymptomatic so it most often kills without warning, but they were screened and found out they had it.
Following their diagnoses, they were both immediately put on medications and made life-style changes. Then the condition worsened and those precautions weren’t deemed enough, so we had defibrillators implanted. The device would shock our hearts if they went out of control. Following this diagnosis, they wanted to spread the word about HCM to encourage people to get themselves or their kids screened.
Then in 2020 they founded HeartCharged, a charity that aims to bring awareness to and educate about different heart conditions. They do this through their social media channels, videos and courses and classes. In 2023 they launched the #FlashTheBoobs campaign, encouraging people to perform CPR or use an AED on women when in Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
Exhibition runs 2-30 September 2024 (weekdays, free entry), exhibition launch and awareness event Saturday 7 September 13:00-17:00.
REFERENCE LINKS
Kingshill House – Kingshill House Creative Centre
HeartCharged (getheartcharged.org)
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