The word “hospital” conjures images of a stereotypical aesthetic of empty white walls and hallways smelling of disinfectant.
St. Albert Painters Guild in partnership with Sturgeon Hospital are working together to dispel the image and create an artfully decorated healing space.
Working in tandem, they have created the Garden Gallery located on the hospital's main floor. It showcases 20 diverse paintings from guild artists. To keep the exhibition fresh, the paintings are rotated every three months with a fresh set of works from different artists.
Megan Petryk, senior consultant, patient and provider experience at the Sturgeon Hospital Foundation was the guild’s primary contact for completing the project.
She spoke of the value of featuring a healing space for patients and their loved ones at a time when they feel most vulnerable or out of control. Picturesque landscapes and colourful abstracts can distract from uncertainty, lift spirits and provide comfort.
“The Garden Gallery is in a hallway that looks out to the hospital garden. It’s a place people come to process many emotions – the joy of having a newborn to the grief of losing someone. Having the paintings on the wall will help them process things. Hospitals are places where people experience anxiety, and having something positive to look at can help manage events,” said Petryk.
And it’s a financial win-win for both parties. The guild has added another venue to showcase its artists’ inspiring works in hopes of prompting sales. In return the Sturgeon Hospital Foundation receives a 20 per cent commission from all sales. The 20 per cent commission will be allocated to the staff and physician wellness fund.
The inaugural set of visual artists exhibiting their paintings are: Lorraine Bérubé, Christina Doehring, Berni Buyse, Al Anderson, Rita Adamache, Michelle Ho Lung, Francoise Noël, Elena Vlassova, Julie Daly and Glen Hamilton.
