On October 22, The Ascension Via Christi-Wichita State School of Nursing and the Ulrich Museum of Art hosted an event titled “The Art of Immunity: Seeing Protection Through a Different Lens,” featuring artist Linda Alterwitz and a panel of medical professionals discussing the intersection of art and science in relation to vaccinations.
The event coincided with Alterwitz’s photographic series “Injection Site,” which she created from 2021 to 2023. The series captures faceless images of vaccinated individuals’ arms, taken with thermal lens cameras between 20 minutes and 30 days after their injections. Alterwitz noted that the purpose of the series was to highlight the varying physical reactions to the vaccine among individuals.
Following the exhibition, a panel discussion took place, involving Alterwitz along with medical professionals including J.V. Johnston, executive director of Guadalupe Clinic; Delane Phillips, a family medicine physician; Heather Stafford, director of Student Health Services at Wichita State; and Dr. Robert Whittler, a pediatric infectious disease specialist.
During the discussion, the panelists addressed common myths about vaccinations. Johnston and Whittler specifically mentioned the long-debunked claim linking vaccinations to autism, highlighting its persistence in public discourse. Stafford shared insights based on her experience with students, urging them to be aware that vaccination costs are often covered and should not deter them from seeking immunization.
Whittler emphasized the importance of providing clear recommendations to families rather than imposing vaccination mandates, stating, “The greatest impact that you could have on a family who’s not necessarily adamant about being vaccinated is not to impose, but to give a clear recommendation.” All panelists concurred that education is essential in addressing vaccine hesitancy.
As the event concluded, Alterwitz expressed a desire for more constructive conversations regarding vaccinations, suggesting that bridging the gap between differing views could foster understanding. “What I would like to see go away is the polarities between someone who does not want to have a vaccine and someone who does,” she remarked.
Alterwitz’s exhibition “Injection Site” is currently on display in Ahlberg Hall.
