Thursday, January 23, 2020
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School of the Arts students create artwork to promote healing
Beautiful, colorful artwork created by high school students soon will brighten up the Roper Hospital Emergency Department for patients and visitors.
The artwork was created by ninth and tenth graders at the Charleston County School of the Arts last year to help improve the hospital’s appearance, leverage the power of art to encourage healing, and help the Emergency Department earn a national geriatric accreditation.
Teammates, students and their families viewed the artwork on Wednesday night at the Bennett House then voted on their favorites to be featured in the ED. All pieces eventually will be hung across Roper St. Francis Healthcare.
Anne Cimballa, the students’ art teacher at School of the Arts, said it was eye opening to see the students’ work. The school sets high expectations, and students exceeded those by producing a body of work at a professional level, she said. She appreciated the opportunity for students.
“I’ve said a million times and I literally can’t say it enough: we’re so happy to have this experience to have Roper put their trust in us to create works of art that they would be proud to hang,” she said.
Dr. Stan Wilson, chief medical officer for Roper Hospital, talked about the connection between art and medicine and how both work together to promote patients’ quality of life. He thanked students for sharing their gifts and talents with the hospital, which exists to serve the community, he said.
“It’s awesome for young people who are in the prime of their lives to give of themselves for our patients,” he said. “We are proud to have you as participating members of our family. We’re all better for it.”
Before the assignment, students talked about the psychology of colors, such as colors that are calming, tranquil and serene and colors they would want to see if they were in an emergency room. They learned about abstract art then were given blank canvases to create.
Sophomore Schenayda Salido, one of the student artists, said their art generally is part of a lesson with specific directions. This painting was a treat to create because it was so open ended, she said.
“They didn’t put you in a box,” she said. “You could’ve went anywhere with it. It’s nice to know it’s going to go somewhere big and that a lot of people are going to see it.”
