O+ Festival Video Highlights Wellness, Spirit of Caring for Each Other

KINGSTON, N.Y.–A new video produced during the fifth annual O+ Festival in Kingston focuses on the health and wellness care that is donated by art-loving providers.

“I can’t think of any better way to trade services than to play music for medical care,” says musician Burnell Pines, whose concert at Keegan Ales is featured throughout the video. “Massages, Reiki, acupuncture, dental work … it’s a real pleasure.”

Videographer Liz Paradise of Topricin, which donated “care packages” of Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream to 2014 festival participants, interviewed a number of wellness clinic volunteers as well as artists and musicians. Click here to watch the video.

Eli Morales, ND, was among those who donated time and talent Oct. 10-13.

“This is a great opportunity to give back and to help artists be healthy,” Morales says. “It’s kind of my mission as a naturopathic doctor is to help people feel free and achieve a sense of wholeness again. Singers are often on the road; it’s hard for them to be healthy, and so I’m doing my best to support them on their journeys.”

It’s the spirit of community caring for itself that makes the festival stand out, says Billy Murphy, MD, who describes his participation as “one of the coolest things I do all year.”

“You have people there when you need them, and that’s really what O+ is all about,” he says.

Brittany Gavin, RN, who has volunteered for three festivals, says the weekend gives her an opportunity to work with patients she doesn’t often get to see — the uninsured or underinsured.

“A lot of artists and musicians are working so much and they’re so rough on their bodies, but then there’s nobody there to take care of them,” she says.

Artist Geddes Jones, who made a mural during the festival, sums up the spirit of the festival in this way: “I think it’s great for artists – people giving to people and helping out.”

Want to see more of O+ Festival in action? Subscribe to the festival’s YouTube channel.