Discussion of women’s health moved outside the doctor’s office.

“Women’s Health: A Bigger Picture,” is an art exhibit on display until Jan. 12 in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union. The exhibit uses art to provoke thought and promote awareness of issues surrounding women’s health. It deals with struggles such as spirituality and well-being, depression, eating disorders and balancing domestic and professional desires.

“Prayer Like Water,” by Chris Cowan, was completed specifically for this show. This piece shows a worn-looking shirt with two hands clasped together in the center. Cascading from the hands is a string of rosary beads. There is a lotus on one side and a rose of Sharon on the other.

Cowan says the beads have personal meaning to her, and she uses them to tie her art with her exploration of the divine. She decided on the spiritual theme, since that ties into so much of what women deal with.

“I’ve become more interested in those things that contribute to spiritual well-being,” Cowan says.

Although many people in traditional American culture communicate linguistically, Cowan points out that many people from different backgrounds and cultures, visual depictions of deeper issues will stimulate discussion more easily.

While Cowan focused on the spiritual side, other artists chose to focus on more physical aspects with pieces that show maturing and aging. Artist Judy Palmateer chose to blend the heart and the physical needs in her work.

“Prayer Shawl,” by Palmateer, is a mint-green shawl she knit for the Israel Family Hospice House.

“When I begin, I ask for God to bless the shawl and I pray as I knit. And, as I go, weave God’s love into the shawl, so that whomever might use the shawl, whether they wrap it around themselves or cover themselves, that they might feel his love in the warmth of the shawl,” she says.

Palmateer started making them earlier this year and says she has met several of recipients.

“When you’re dying, sometimes you are afraid, and it’s comforting to know that love is there,” Palmateer says. Knitting the shawls has been a way for Palmateer to use her creative talents to benefit others in the community. “I usually take one or two out each week,” Palmateer says. “That seems to work well.”

“I Can’t Eat,” by Alice McGary, is a set of four pen and pencil drawings that depict four different stages of a battle with an eating disorder. The first is a black and white, simply drawn person with a red broken heart and ill-looking figure, with the words “I can’t eat.”

The second drawing says, “You must eat,” and the third says, “I will eat,” each with figures sketched in the same style, and color only in emphasized body parts. The last picture shows the same type of person with a whole heart and a healthy glow coming from the abdominal area, holding out a plate of food, with the phrase, “I made this just for you.”

Promoting overall wellness in women and causing women to take account of how “healthy” they really are is important to Cowan.

“Health is more than the absence of illness — many things contribute to our sense of well-being,” Cowan says. “That includes the physical, the mental, the spiritual aspects of our lives.”