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Forget the aspirin — take two works of art and call Alexander Melamid in the morning. He’s just opened the Art Healing Ministry on Thompson in SoHo.

“I've been an artist for years and years, maybe 50 years or more, so I realized art can heal,” says Melamid.

The ministry includes art healing objects like creative insoles for shoes and “art water chargers” whereby the water is “charged” by the art inside.

“We would recommend when you pour the water you keep this in for 72 hours in a cool place, a dark and cool place, and then after that you can consume it,” says Melamid. “So we have different versions of this. Here we have Roy Lichenstein water, here we have a Botticelli water, very beautiful.”

Melamid also offers a free art evaluation to help determine what sort of treatment customers need.

After diagnosing a fatigue diagnosis, Melamid offered a treatment of images by Andy Warhol and Vermeer projected onto the stomach.

“And what is really important is that only great masterpieces work,” says Melamid.

For any ongoing treatment, this Russian born conceptual artist takes out his prescription pad, being the floor plan to the Museum of Modern Art.

“So I would recommend you to go to this, number five, and I would recommend you to look at the Renoir paintings,” says Melamid. “We have a dispensary, and I would recommend you to buy from us a reproduction of certain pieces to enjoy it at home.”

Patients here just might leave feeling better having experienced these works of art. Those that may chuckle at something like “happiness in a box,” one item Melamid offers that is literally a box with the work “happiness” printed on the inside, might consider that laughter is the best medicine.

The Art Healing Ministry clinic and art store are now open for visits and treatments. Its official launch on Wednesday, May 25 will include a meet and greet with Alexander Melamid and free guided tours for the general public between 5:00 and 7:30 p.m.

Schedule and Appointments
Art Healing Ministry
98 Thompson Street at Spring Street
Art Store and Clinic: open from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., until June 30, 2011.

Treatment Appointments
Book appointments at info@arthealingministry.org or by calling (212)334-0403. Pricing information available at www.arthealingministry.org.