Pictured, from left: Mike Duncan, President and CEO of The Chester County Hospital and Health System; artist Lin Webber, and Healing Art Works Board Members Patty Cunningham and Lisa Prinzo.
Published: Synapse 2012, Vol. 1
Strolling on a warm beach at sunrise. Nestling in a cozy spot with a favorite book. Listening to the rhythmic sound of a babbling brook.
It can be relatively easy to let your mind escape from reality to any one of these familiar relaxing moments. Reflecting on those instances when you had time to just breathe and simply enjoy the here and now can give you enough energy to handle anything that life throws at you.
For a patient in the hospital whose level of worry, stress or fatigue may be higher than normal, being able to relax by shifting their focus toward something more calming can be beneficial in their recovery. In a hospital, artwork can foster mental escapism to promote healing.
The Chester County Hospital and Health System and Healing Art Works are collaborating to introduce original artwork into patient care spaces at the Hospital.
With a motto of "Healing through art - one room at a time," Healing Art Works is an Exton-based non-profit committed to supporting emotional and physical healing through fine art by placing donated original artwork in patient rooms at medical centers and outpatient facilities.
Healing Art Works believes the value of original works of art in patient care spaces will complement The Chester County Hospital's drive to "Make Lives Better Every Day" by enhancing patient, family and staff experiences.
Based on guidance from the Hospital, Healing Art Works will begin a nationwide solicitation of artists to submit potential art for juried selection. The featured artist for The Chester County Hospital's project is Lin Webber, a local artist who is known for her bucolic Chester County landscapes.
Driven by a commitment to patient-centered care, the Hospital is embarking on a 93,000-square-foot campus expansion to better serve the needs of the community it serves. Healing
Art Works will be working with the Hospital to collect artwork for the new state-of-the-art patient rooms, which will also have large windows for daylight.
Since its founding in 2005, Healing Art Works has collected approximately 250 pieces of original art from artists nationwide. The partnership with The Chester County Hospital represents the group's fifth project. Healing Art Works has also provided fine art for the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge and Cooper University Hospital.