Elizabeth Nolan stared at the barren walls of the University Health Center Tuesday afternoon. She sat in a chair in the lobby for most of her 35-minute wait and passed the time text messaging and reading bulletin boards.
Students like Nolan will soon have art to take in while they wait to see a doctor or nurse. Health center officials hope to improve the atmosphere by featuring student and professional artwork in the health center lobby and courtyard starting this summer.
“It definitely feels like you’re in a health center,” Nolan said. The junior added the atmosphere was improved after the health center remodel last year.
Art improves overall health and well-being for patients, and helps enhance the healing process, according to the Society for the Arts in Healthcare.
Gay Hanna, executive director for SAH, said artwork in health care centers helps bring the community inside medical centers.
“It helps patients, caregivers and family feel the support of the community,” Hanna said. “It allows different culture into the center to express itself and make the healing environment comforting.”
The health center plans to commission New York City artist Suikang Zhao through the Oregon Arts Commission’s public art program. Zhao teaches at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and has artwork displayed in public spaces around the country, including Portland’s Planning Bureau building.
The OAC public art program started in 1975 in an effort to put artwork in public buildings to provide artistic enrichment for Oregon citizens and visitors, according to the group’s Web site. The art commission sets aside construction funds for new or remodeled state facilities to obtain the art.
The health center has a budget of $67,000 to commission artists’ work, said Anne Mattson, associate director of the health center.
More than 100 artists from the United States and Canada submitted applications last year for the opportunity to have their work on display at the health center permanently.
A student art committee selected the commissioned piece. Zhao will create a wall and ceiling welded steel sculpture this summer with the help of University art students in Eugene.
In a separate project, the health center will also feature student work and is currently in the process of selecting student art, Mattson said. Students will not be paid. Mattson has looked at student work in the LaVerne Krause Art Gallery in Lawrence Hall for students to contact about their work.
The health center doesn’t offer any specific guidelines and will consider various art forms, including paintings and photographs, Mattson said.
“We’re looking at everything,” she said. “The key here is that the art is healing.”
PeaceHealth, which owns Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, is also looking at ways to integrate art into its hospitals.
PeaceHealth officials and architects are exploring new designs at Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, which will open in Springfield in August 2008, said Bonnie Henderson, chair of Sacred Heart’s art committee. After the move to RiverBend, hospital officials will also put new art at the Hilyard Street hospital during a $97 million remodel. The current hospital near the University doesn’t have any art guidelines and has art scattered around the hospital.
“We know people looking out the window at scenes of nature actually heal faster and need less medical attention compared to people looking at a brick wall,” Henderson said, adding artwork in health centers aid healing.
Sacred Heart at RiverBend will include decorative stair railings, sculptures, glass walls, paintings and photographs.
“Generally speaking, we know people like landscapes,” Henderson said. “We know people feel better right away.”
Patients would rather see spring scenes than winter scenes in paintings and photographs, Henderson said.
“When you wake up from heart surgery, which would make you feel better?” Henderson said.
Nolan said the health center atmosphere affects her well-being. She said she would like to see tranquil scenes.
“Nothing too abrasive,” she said.
Kate Wagle, head of the University art department, said the health center lobby display gives students the opportunity to show their art to the public. She said the art will add comfort to the center.
“Art is engaging and interesting and makes you think,” Wagle said. “It’ll be a wonderful distraction at the health center.”
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