In The News

“Hopeful Tomorrow”

February 21, 2023 by dkt10

Commemorating COVID Care

photo taken over the shoulder of a HVI employee of a work of art . The artwork is a mosaic of a tree standing alone in a vacant landscape. A new mosaic work of art reflects the light coming in the Heart/Vascular Institute Critical Care (HVICCU) South Hospital entrance lobby. The art itself reflects so much more. “This special artwork pays homage to the strength and resilience our nurses found during the height of pandemic patient care,” said Claire de Boer, director of Center Stage Arts in Health.

Center Stage collected the bags used to store N95 masks onsite at the beginning of 2020 when PPE was in short supply. Professional mosaic artist Gail Jones of Muncy Valley, Pa., took the bags and cut, painted, and arranged the pieces into a glimmering composite titled “Hopeful Tomorrow.” The transformation of this material honors the caregivers who bravely worked in the unit during the height of COVID.

One outcome of COVID is the ease with which people can connect digitally. Jones was able to watch the unveiling of the art from her studio. She was humbled and amazed to see how many staff came out for the event. “A thrill went through me along with other emotions. My hope is that the art evokes a sense of calm, joy, and hope.”

Jaime A Rank, BSN, RN, CCRN, HVICCU clinical staff leader, championed the project. She said, “When the art piece was unveiled, I was speechless, overwhelmed with a rainbow of emotions and flooded with memories and snapshots of moments in time during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were truly transformed into ‘heroes’ overnight and together our ICU team persevered to continue to give the care and comfort our patients so desperately needed.”

Rank explained that as viewers peer closely at the artwork, they will recognize the small pieces of the PPE bags that Patient Care Secretary Nikki Clutton put countless hours into decorating and individualizing for each member of the care team. “The bags were just what we needed to make us smile and feel special, during a difficult time in our profession. Just like our healthcare team, our bags have now been transformed into a timeless piece of art. The spirit of the art takes my breath away,” said Rank.

Clutton said “Hopeful Tomorrow” turned out amazing and makes her smile whenever she sees it. “I actually really enjoyed making the bags for my unit. I started with just the name and a small design, and it grew into an individualized design specific to each person. It was an unexpected way to make people smile during a difficult time.”

“This unit cared for the sickest of our patients. Our nurses were their families, their ministers, their friends, and their caregivers,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Michele Szkolnicki. “They took tremendous pride in the recovery of every individual. I am so glad that they have this beautiful piece of art to remind them of their beloved patients, and each individual’s journey into the future that they helped to ensure.”

Long after people who have recovered and moved on with their lives, this art will be here to celebrate the care they received in the HVICCU according to Deborah Addo, Penn State Health executive vice president and chief operating officer who witnessed the moment the art was unveiled to employees. “’Hopeful Tomorrow,’ truly reflects the emotions we are all feeling as we move into brighter days,” said Addo.

2022 Annual Art Champion Award

October 20, 2022 by dkt10

Center Stage Bestows Second Annual Art Champion Award

Artist John Pompeo painting of a beach with seagulls flying low to the ground in the foreground and 2 fishing poles stuck into the sand and cast into the water

Center Stage Arts in Health partners with our institution’s departments to offer meaningful arts engagements to our workforce. Members of each department know what might work the best for their coworkers. Each department identifies an “Art Champion” who acts as the Center Stage contact person for artistic offerings for the unit.

Director of Center Stage Arts in Health Claire de Boer says, “This was one of the initiatives that was sparked by the challenges of the pandemic. We started the Art Champion program so that employees act as a contact point for available arts for wellness for their unit. The arts offer ways to relax, connect with others, and find positive distraction during stressful times. Art Champions have been ambassadors to bring the arts to the patients and employees in their departments in ways that make sense for their specific area.”

Each year, an Art Champion of the Year is selected for outstanding service in this role. Center Stage presented Ann Smith Gregoire, Nurse Practitioner, in the Surgery Oncology unit with the second annual “Art Champion of the Year” award for 2022.

Annie said, “I am so delighted to be honored with an award that means so much to me! The personalization of patient care is crucial and the arts offer so much to patients and families! … I value so much all that you do for us and look forward to future collaboration.”

Center Stage provided the Surgery Oncology unit with art kits for their patients and team members as well as other offerings to accentuate their special events. Annie’s award selection was based on her valued work with Center Stage throughout the year including distributing art kits and having live music at several events. She also shared “Weekly Wellness Highlights,” monthly music schedules, and featured Arts in Health programs with her unit.

As the recipient of this award, Annie was gifted a giclée print of art by one of the Center Stage artists. She chose “I Dreamed of Gliding” by John Pompeo as it immediately resonated with her love of the beach. “So lovely and makes me dream of Ocean City, New Jersey, every time I look at it. A beautiful addition for our home,” Annie says.

“We highly value the well-being of our dedicated workforce, and we strive to offer arts engagements to support it. The Art Champions are experts in the daily work life of their coworkers, and they serve as an invaluable resource to help us offer the best fit arts engagements for their unit. Annie is an example of an outstanding partner in this program,” says Claire.

Annie’s work was one of the many projects that arose from the Art Champion program. See also “fingerprint article.”

Interested in serving as an Art Champion?

You will partner with Center Stage to:

Select optimal art for wellness workshops and projects for your team.
Distribute art materials.
Organize sharing of iPads (if available) to share arts online with patients.
Provide feedback from your unit on Art for Wellness projects.
Liaise with nurse manager to inform us of your Arts in Wellness activities.

Email centerstage@pennstatehealth.psu.edu for more information.

“Let Hope Grow”

October 26, 2021 by dkt10

“Let Hope Grow” Unveiled at ALS Clinic

employees of the ALS clinic gather around a laptop computer which live broadcasting the artist talking about the ne w artwork hanging in the ALS clinic

A family member of an ALS patient attends the unveiling of the new artwork at 30 Hope Drive. He said he is glad the new artwork is there for the people who go to the clinic. “It is phenomenally beautiful,” he says.

New artwork in a hallway of the Neurology Suite reflects the aesthetics that appeal to ALS Clinic health care providers, staff, patients, and caregivers: nature, color, hope, cycles of life, and a sturdy, sheltering oak. Fine Artist Debra D’Souza combined all of these themes into a collection of mosaic glass and created “Let Hope Grow” for the long hallways of the clinic at 30 Hope Drive.

Center Stage Arts in Health, part of the Penn State College of Medicine Department of Humanities, joined with the Penn State Health ALS Clinic to collaborate on a process of choosing new artwork for space. ALS Clinic individuals were instrumental in providing guidance on the type of art that would best appeal to the people who pass through these hallways every day.

Members of the ALS support group, along with the employees of the clinic voted on themes and medium. Keen on samples showing shimmering views of trees and leaves, they chose the artist who used nature and mandalas in this collection of mosaics. Mandalas are circular designs, with a center around which revolves and organized, repeating design. The design of the mandala represents wholeness and symbolizes unity in the world and unity in our personal lives.

Neurology Physician Xiaowei Su, MD, says, “This artwork is a direct result of everyone’s joint ideas. I especially like how the mandala individual pieces create the whole – that really drives home the idea that entire clinic and entire community contributed to the artwork. In Asian culture, mandalas are drawn in the sand and then blown away to represent impermanence but the ideas that they represent are permanent.”

Clinical Nurse Specialist Susan Walsh who coordinates patient care for the clinic says, “The ALS Association helped make this possible. The orchestrated collaboration with our patients and families is so meaningful.” Patients and families of the focus group visited the clinic to witness the unveiling.

Center Stage Director Claire de Boer says the group who came together to guide this process of selecting art did it beautifully. “The arts help to support us emotionally. We have a way to reflect how the families and caregivers are involved and make sense of it all.”

Debra, of Minnesota, studied with master mosaicists worldwide. Her mosaic art is featured in multiple local, regional, and national exhibitions, and is in several permanent collections, including Stanford University, Penn State, Health Partners, Mayo Health System and Marshfield Clinic. “This project for Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has a special place in my heart, as one of my life-long friends was recently diagnosed with ALS. I created these mosaics to bring some peace and beauty for all who view them. I hope that my artworks will share love to the patients, families, the medical team, and caregivers,” she says.

Art Champion Award

September 22, 2021 by dkt10

Center Stage Bestows Inaugural Art Champion Award

Dozens of employees throughout the Penn State Health community who believe in the power of creativity stepped up to serve as Art Champions for their departments. In partnership with Center Stage Arts in Health, in the Department of Humanities, Art Champions share wellness projects with patients and coworkers.

Center Stage transformed many of its programs during the pandemic and reached out to departmental partners to help to promote new arts-based offerings in work areas.

Director of Center Stage Arts in Health Claire de Boer says, “This was one of the initiatives that was sparked by the challenges of the pandemic. We started the Art Champion program so that employees can act as a contact point for available arts for wellness in their work units. The arts offer ways to relax, connect with others and find positive distraction during stressful times. Art Champions have been ambassadors to bring the arts to the patients and employees in their departments in ways that make sense for their specific area.”

Lauren Talhelm proudly stands holding a framed waercolor painting titled “Afternoon in Hershey” by Brienne Brown One individual stands out for her continuous partnership to deliver Center Stage Arts in Health programs. Center Stage presented Lauren Talhelm, C-TAGME, GME Coordinator, in the Graduate Medical Education Office with an inaugural “Art Champion of the Year” award.

Lauren said, “I am truly honored … I am just very thankful Center Stage provides all of these opportunities, that you are so easy to work with and so accommodating. I know our GME Community appreciates everything you do!”

Center Stage provided the GME area with art kits for their wellness activities as well as other offerings to accentuate their resident and fellow events. Lauren’s award selection was based on her valued work with Center Stage throughout the year including distributing art kits, having live music at an event, and scheduling an “Art for Wellness” workshop. She also shared “Weekly Wellness Highlights,” monthly music schedules, and featured programs in the “GME Wellness” newsletter.

As the recipient of this award, Lauren was gifted a giclée print of art by one of the Center Stage artists. She chose “Afternoon in Hershey” by Brienne Brown as she moved into a new home with a Hershey/Hummelstown theme in part of the dining room. “It’s perfect,” Lauren says.

“We thank Lauren for emotionally supporting her coworkers through the arts engagements offered by Center Stage this year, and greatly appreciate her partnership,” says Claire. Lauren’s work was one of the many projects that arose from the Art Champion program. See also “fingerprint article.”

Do want to serve as an Art Champion?