ACMH Hospital opens The Art of Healing gallery
Space is result of a partnership between ACMH Hospital and Armstrong County Arts Council (ACAC)
By KIERAN WOYNICZ
Staff Reporter
Feb 28, 2024
ACMH Hospital recently played host to an open house for their art gallery, The Art of Healing (TAOH) on Feb. 23. The gallery is a partnership between the hospital located in East Franklin Township and Armstrong County Arts Council (ACAC).
TAOH aims to be a beacon of hope and inspiration to patients and visitors, according to a press release from ACMH.The idea for TOAH came from Director of ACMH Cardiopulmonary Department Erin Erb.Erb was visiting another clinic and saw an art display, and then began to examine how she could do something similar at ACMH.
Erb’s idea was enthusiastically endorsed and a committee with Executive Director of Clinical Services Jeff Lasko, Executive Director of Nursing Dana Mikos, Facilities Management Bill Daniel and Marketing Supervisor Tim Lehner was formed to examine how to proceed.
“It’s a unique way to promote healing and brighten things up,” ACMH President and CEO of the Executive Department Nichole Geraci said. “It lets us show the work of local artists and adds some color to our walls.”
“When you look at art, it’s not the normal physical medication, but it’s still important for healing,” said Lasko. “Getting the community involved, folks from Armstrong County, it’s just a blessing for us to display their work.”
The next step was to reach out to Executive Director of the ACAC Donna Weckerly to find potential artists who could have their works displayed.
“When they reached out to me, I was totally surprised and then completely excited to have such a great space to not only display art, but to also connect the dots between the artists and the community,” Weckerly said.
Even though it was officially opened last Friday, TAOH has been noticed by patients and staff at ACMH.
“As soon as we started hanging it people were looking at it,” said Erb at the opening. Along with looking at the pieces, some have already purchased a few pieces, Erb said.
Pieces currently on display are from local artists Rod Morris, Giuseppe Mammano, Maria Pos, Cathy Strate, Paula Jack and Ben Valasek were on display for all to see.
The plan is to rotate the art on display every three months. All pieces on display are for sale, and information about the artists is available online.
For more information on current pieces visit: acmh.org/artofhealing.
Vice Chairman of Armstrong County board of commissioners Anthony Shea was present at the opening and was happy with what ACMH and ACAC had accomplished.
“It recognizes local artists and their work. Not only does it recognize them, but it also brightens up the hospital,” Shea said.
Added county Commissioner Pat Fabian, the board’s secretary: “Seeing all the art in here is amazing. It captures the potential of everyone.”
County Commissioner Chairman John Strate, who was traveling at the time of the event, this week issued the following statement: “I couldn’t be more excited with this move in ACMH. I for one have spent many hours dealing with a loved ones health issues that certainly do not always end well. Often you Vnd yourself alone in a hallway wondering the outcome. What the art does is allow yourself a moment in time to free yourself from the hospital environment. The feeling our local artists get is knowing their talents can be used to help encourage others! Great work everyone!”
A common theme among those present at the opening was the pride they felt at what they had managed to accomplish together, and the hope to expand the gallery with time.
“The partnership with arts councils is going extremely well,” stated Erin according to the aforementioned press release. “They, like us, hope the program provides comfort to our patients and inspires visitors throughout the region. We are really excited to see the program grow!”
“We’re going to keep expanding. We can do something at the cancer center. We can expand down the hallways. If we can keep getting more and more artists in here then we’ll keep expanding,” Erb said.
Lasko said, “It could even help the folks on our skilled nursing unit, or psychiatric unit, by doing projects related to art with the residents.”
“If we keep adding artists then maybe it can become a permanent exhibition,” Weckerly said.Anyone interested in displaying their artwork in TAOH gallery can contact the ACAC at: armstrongcountyartscouncil.org.
Kieran Woynicz is a staff reporter for the Leader Times. He can be reached at 724-543-1303, ext. 1337 or: kwoynicz@leadertimes.com.
Comments