Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital 2

Patient Floors and Family Support Areas: Selected published art depicting possible Virginia Beach landscapes, residents and pastimes blend seamlessly with original artwork to continue the High Touch/High Tech art theme throughout the patient floors, while keeping the art program in budget. Images of pets were placed on the Cardiac floor to help visually reinforce the pet therapy program in place.

Bistro and Heart Center: To expand the boundaries of the West Wing beyond the physical building, SVBGH chose to showcase original photographs of well known landmarks and surrounding areas by local artists Tim Rudzeinski and Dr. Irving Pike of SVBGH’s medical staff.

Familiar images can help reduce stress in healthcare environments by subtly reminding viewers they are being cared for close to home by those who know them well. Familiar images also offer patients, visitors and staff an opportunity to relax, reflect on memories and for the moment, possibly escape their immediate stress, and thus experience the healing quality of art.

“Bay Watch” Dr. Irving Pike

Rotating Community Art Galleries: Designed as an integral part of the hospital’s art program as a way to continually support local artists while providing community outreach. Seven galleries, totaling 140 linear feet are located in prominent public spaces on all floors of the hospital. These galleries help expand the physical boundaries of the hospital by introducing local artists’ work to patients, visitors and staff on a rotating basis. A continuous track/cable hardware system was installed in each gallery to provide quick, maintenance free art rotations. DAS helped SVBGH establish their community art galleries by developing gallery guidelines and procedures, contacting the local artists, coordinating health care appropriate submissions and hanging the inaugural art show. The seven community art galleries opened with a total of 49 works of art created by 23 local artists, most of whom were Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital staff members, physicians or patients. SVBGH now continues to coordinate and manage all aspects of their community art gallery.