"Each and Every Day: Simple but Full of Love"
NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine program
What is NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine program?
The artists will design the murals through focus groups with patients, staff, and neighborhood residents, followed by community “paint parties” to create the mural. Selected from among 130 applicants, the artists include a mosaic artist, an augmented reality muralist, and a photomural artist. Decades of research have shown that the arts can play a role in “healing the healers” as well as improving patient outcomes and forging community health awareness and partnerships. The new murals will build on the 26 murals created in the first wave of the Community Mural Project and recently featured in a new book, Healing Walls: New York City Health + Hospitals Community Mural Project 2019-2021. The Community Mural Project and several other Arts in Medicine programs at NYC Health + Hospitals are possible with a grant from the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.
CONCEPT
Within the mural's composition, a plethora of different scenes showcases symbols such as flowers, butterflies, hearts, and the sun, all celebrating life. On the right side of the mural, the canvas portrays community members engaged in their daily routines. These seemingly ordinary moments reveal the beauty and strength of daily existence. Progressing leftward, the mural transitions into a portrayal of the inner workings of the hospital, including a doctor with an x-ray, a dentist with a child, a pregnant woman, and families. This pays homage to the Bronx and Morrisania's neighborhood, emphasizing the dedication and compassion of the hospital staff in their daily duties and the extraordinary aspects within the routine. The mural also highlights the distinctive roles played by each department within the hospital, while incorporating elements that authentically capture the essence of the Bronx.
The figure of the teddy bear evokes the ideals of a Care Bear, serving as a reminder to hospital staff of the importance of practicing and embodying caring, compassionate values, aligning closely with the ICARE and Communicating Empathy initiatives. Patient Experience Officer Gayle presented the staff with teddy bears as a gesture of championing compassion and nurturing approach in interactions with patients.
SIZE
Entrance W 18' 6" x H 29' 11"
Side Walk W 62' 9" x H 11' 10"
MATERIAL
Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint
DATE
March - November (2023)
LOCATION
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania
1225 Gerard Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
DESIGN PROCESS
PAINT PARTY AT HOSPITAL
PAINTING PROCESS
Installation
ASSISTED BY
INSTALLATION BY
