New art on display at Clark For Valley hospital
Danielle Switalski
The Sanders County Arts Council helps to make patients’ stay at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital a little more enjoyable through their Art on the Walls program.
Four years ago the Arts Council began Art on the Walls, which puts up new art on the walls of a long hallway in the hospital four times a year. Tuesday, January 19 marked the start of a new quarter for Art on the Walls with an evening honoring artists ages 18 and younger who have participated in keeping the hospital walls creatively decorated.
The Arts Council chose the hospital as a venue to display the works of local artists, according to Faye Salomone, organizer of this quarter’s display, because it was the most available public place that had room to display the numerous pieces.
“It provides a lot of distraction for patients, they can come out in the hallway and see something a little bit different and not worry for once, a lot of time they bring patients from long term care to look at the art,” said Salomone.
This year was a bit different than last year’s quarter that displayed works from local youths as more classrooms participated. Last year only two grades participated, but this year the kindergarten, first and second grade classes all brought in pieces as part of their class curriculum. The kids were also introduced to new types of mediums, giving the walls a variety of different art forms including acrylics, graphite pencil and ink, sponge painting and crayon melt.
“It’s giving students an opportunity to learn some different things and building a relationship between the community, the hospital, arts council and the students,” said Salomone.
Tuesday night not only gave young, local artists a chance to show off some of their pieces, but local musicians also had the chance to share their talents by providing entertainment for guests on opening night.
Heidi Mack, a local piano teacher got local talent to come together last year for opening night of the youth’s Art on the Walls display. Of all four Art on the Wall’s shows, the youth show is the only one that provides entertainment, including two violinists from Trout Creek, Doris Page and Jessica Cardenas, Joel and Adam Jacobs, Derick Curry, Jessica Cardenas, Jade LaDeaux and Rachel Wroblewski, all of whom performed throughout the evening.
“This is great experience for the kids, they really enjoy playing in open houses because it’s a more informal atmosphere,” said Mack.
Russell Logan, Executive Assistant at the hospital said as long as the Art’s Council is willing to provide art, the hospital will continue to provide wall space as the art is a nice distraction for patients and visitors.
“It’s really a neat opportunity for us to display our local community’s efforts as artists and our patients, visitors and staff really enjoy the art work, so it’s a neat opportunity for us,” said Logan. “We have quite a few inpatients and the patients and their families come out and really like it.”
The youth art will be on the walls until the end of March.
Questions on this story can be emailed to Reporter Danielle Switalski by emailing her at reporter1@VP-MI.com.