ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (AP) - A hospital is stressful for patients and staff. But artwork from 20 area artists in the new UnityPoint Health-Trinity addition is aimed to promote peace, comfort and recovery.
Davenport-based Paragon Commercial Interiors, the interior design firm for the new $61.3 million Heart Center and Emergency Department, worked with Cannon Design, of Chicago; Gere Dismer Architects in Rock Island and an art selection committee to choose paintings and photography that support a positive healing environment.
About 200 original works were chosen or commissioned using the criteria of “evidence-based design principles” for health care, said Paragon co-owner Dana Wilkinson, who led a special tour on March 25 for artists whose work now is on permanent display.
“The hospital had a strong desire to utilize works by local artists that would fit the criteria of healing art,” she said. “My job was to bring together the interior design scheme, finishes and furnishings with the artwork to create a comforting environment that supports healing in every way.”
“I’m so happy to see works by our area artists represented in a public collection,” said Dawn Wohlford-Metallo, Quad City Arts’ visual arts director and another selection committee member. “We have so many talented artists living here, and this is a perfect way to share their work with the community. “
The 90,000-square-foot, three-story expansion at the hospital, 2701 17th St., replaces and expands the prior emergency department and cardiac treatment areas, and adds a segregated crisis stabilization area for mental-health issues, including patients who may be dangerous or violent. It will open for patient care on April 19.
“There’s some really unique aspects of this building,” Trinity CEO Rick Seidler said Wednesday. “The art is a real special part of this building. We have great local artists, obviously.”
One of the impressive works people will see is a series of blue-sky photos by Ken Urban, of Davenport. The photos were enlarged to about eight feet tall, put on plastic resin panels with white ribbing and mounted.
“It’s quite an honor,” said Mr. Urban, who has 20 photographs throughout the addition. “It’s wonderful they selected all local artists. They could have just put up generic corporate art, like you see in a hotel room. It’s an honor to be included with the other artists.”
Radim Schreiber, of Fairfield, Iowa, has 17 close-up photos of glowing fireflies on display throughout the complex.
“I really like it because I find the glow, just the whole firefly theme being very healing,” he said. “It brings people the joy of childhood, and memories of happiness, and those memories help people to heal. There’s a lot to be said about our thoughts and how they affect our health.”
Many rooms have close-up photos of flowers by Elizabeth Thoman, of Davenport, a retired nun from the Sisters of Humility. Randy Richmond, of Muscatine, pointed out three of his photos from Nahant Marsh, part of a larger project he has done with Audrey Brown for an exhibit at Rock Island-based Quad City Arts in May.
“All my photography is about learning and being aware of your surroundings,” he said of his nature photos at Trinity, including four triptychs. “If my photography here can be utilized to relax somebody, and soothe them, then I’m happy to do it.”
There’s also a lot of locally-produced art at UnityPoint Health-Trinity Bettendorf, which opened in 2004, hospital spokeswoman Erin Platt said.
Art is playing an increasing role in patient-centered design philosophies in medical facilities, according to Trinity. In hospitals across the country, artwork has become another means to create a nurturing space for patients and their families, as well as staff.
Other artists chosen for the Rock Island facility include Sherri Behr DeVrieze, of East Moline; Pat Bereskin, of Bettendorf; Brad Bisbey, Heidi Brandt, Audrey Brown, Lee Kimball and Diane Bruce, all of Davenport; Darrell Bush, of Rock Island; Trent Foltz, of Geneseo; Terry Herbig, of Moline; Brent Langley, of Coal Valley; Rick Lodmell, of Colona, and Nancy Lindsay, of Anamosa, Iowa.
Ms. Wilkinson said there’s no art in the crisis stabilization walls, since those patients may be violent and at risk of hurting themselves or others, and could damage the walls and anything in the rooms. A nearby living room, intended to de-escalate their issues, does have a small aquarium and photos.
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Source: QCOnline: https://bit.ly/1J0Ju7q
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Information from: The Rock Island Argus, https://www.qconline.com/index.shtml
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