May 25, 2011
Art being sought for remodeled Hall Health
When Hall Health Primary Care Center staff began to think about the end of the facilitys remodeling project, scheduled for this fall, they realized one area needed more attention.
Public art.
Elise Lowe is among the students who have already submitted work for consideration.
When a 14-member committee – with representatives from the School of Art, Henry Art Gallery, UW Libraries Visual Collections, and Capital Projects Office, in addition to three student representatives and Hall Health employees — was appointed in March, they realized they had an opportunity to make the public spaces – waiting areas, conference rooms and even clinic areas – reflect the nature of what occurred within the building: Who worked there, the organizations mission and who were the clients.
One theme that will be stressed throughout the 50 or more art-worthy spaces is well-being, both physical and mental.
Another relatively easy decision was to try and feature student art – after all, the facility primarily serves students. So committee members have been beating the bushes to obtain student submissions – not just from the School of Art, but also from architecture, mechanical engineering and the UW Extension program in photography.
Amber Bronnum also submitted her work.
“We wanted to have diverse submissions,” says Mark Shaw, director of health promotion and committee chair. The committee also decided to provide incentives by awarding $100 prizes for the top three submitted artworks, which will be hung for the academic year in the waiting areas on each floor of the building.
Students are limited to two digital submissions. The deadline is June 10. Submissions should be sent to hhpccweb@uw.edu.
“Were hopeful, with the student art, that we may provide a showing of early work for someone who achieves prominence in the future,” Shaw says.
The committee also decided to seek artwork created by Hall Healths staff. “Were planning to display work that will correspond to the emphases of the different clinics – sports, family/children, womens health, physical therapy and travel,” Shaw says. “We know we have a number of people on staff with artistic inclinations, and were hoping to find more. We will have a have a juried competition of photos by our staff, with judges from the UW Photographers Group. “
Finally, the committee also is seeking artwork from the general UW community. All work chosen will be regarded as “on loan” from the artists, with Hall Health paying for framing. Shaw says there will be an art catalog on the website. The duration of art placement remains to be determined and will depend on the quantity of art obtained and whether future funding is available. Shaw hopes that, over time, Hall Health can gradually acquire art for permanent display around the building, through purchases from the BFA and MFA student exhibitions, as well as other sources.
The committee hopes to select the art by the end of August. All art should be submitted digitally. For more details, contact Shaw at mshaw@uw.edu.
With the reopening of the center in the fall, an open house and art tour after business hours is being planned.
