Artists wanted: Hospital opens its hallways to showcase local talent

East Adams Rural Healthcare has been amid construction for months, and while the facility is receiving an internal facelift, the staff are looking for individuals to help improve the aesthetic of the building for visitors.

With two of the three phases complete of the construction project, the staff are now turning their focus towards the improvement of the atmosphere within the hospital. As patients and family members come to the hospital in a time of need, the staff members are committed to providing a welcoming and positive environment to improve the quality of their visit.

One way the hospital staff believe they can improve the aesthetic is by displaying diverse and unique artwork in the hallways. The artwork helps provide color and dimension to the space, as well as allowing visitors with an opportunity to appreciate the artwork as they walk the hallways.

Kellie Ottmar and Tanya Bouvette serve as members of the Art Committee for EARH. The committee established originally to focus on bringing artwork into the hospital, and the members quickly agreed the best artwork to utilize would be from area artists.

Bouvette explained, “We want to involve the community in helping make our halls more inviting and comfortable. All artwork must be made by a local, and has to be hang-able.”

Ottmar explained the artwork must be completed, meaning it needs to be framed or on canvas. The artwork cannot be too heavy, she added.

Local artists can bring their artwork to the facility, but need to fill out a liability waiver. Artists are welcomed to display artwork they are interested in selling, and each display of artwork will have a placard with the artist’s information.

Ottmar said there is not an age limit for individuals interested in displaying artwork, but each piece must pass committee approval. There are restrictions on the type of material that can be pictured, and the committee will approve or decline each submitted piece, notifying the artist of their decision.

All of the artwork will be displayed in the clinic portion of the hospital initially, before expanding throughout the entire facility. Each of the displays will be lighted, allowing guests during the nighttime hours to view the artwork.

Along with the local displays, the Adams County Historical Society is assisting with shadow cabinet themed displays in the hospital. In the future, Bouvette explained they are interested in hosting specific themes for the artwork, including a kid’s corner and celebrating week’s like homecoming.

Ottmar stated the art committee has a lot of ideas they are excited about and ready to begin in the new facility. The community is filled with talented artists from photographers to painters, and Ottmar said the art committee wants to encourage every local artist to submit their work.

Digital art is also welcome to be displayed, Ottmar added.

Artists can decide if they would like to loan or donate the pieces for the facility, Bouvette said. Ottmar added the artist can also decide how long they would like the artwork to be displayed. The artwork will only be rotated out if there are a continuous stream of submissions.

The artwork will be hung on professional displays so as to not damage the piece, Ottmar stated. The art committee is also accepting donations, and this could create a potential for shelving to be installed for sculptures to be displayed.

Members of the art committee include Ottmar, Bouvette, Brenda Herr, Gary Bostrom, Tanya Rodriguez, Stacey Plummer, Juanita Lyle, Marine Boyer and Dina McBride.

Local artists can find the Art Display Policy online at http://earh.com, or hard copies are available at the front desk at the hospital.

For more information, call 659-1200 or email [email protected].