The goal for Siteman Cancer Center at Northwest HealthCare was to create a bright and colorful healing environment accented with art that represents the community and highlights the client’s chosen design theme: “The Power of Many.” Vibrant abstracts, nature-based prints, local photography, and commissions from local artists capture the essence of the community and beautifully complement the vivid interior, resulting in an energizing and uplifting atmosphere for patients and their families.

Early on in the project, the team devised a creative plan to incorporate messages directly from members of the community. At the groundbreaking ceremony, guests were encouraged to write on a ribbon that would later be used to create a colorful tapestry of strength, hope, and resilience. Artist Samantha Bryant wove each ribbon together, creating a unique and meaningful tapestry for the center’s community room. The piece is a beautiful manifestation of the power of many voices, stories, and lives rooted in the community.

Another piece, a painted mannequin named Arty, was installed for patients and staff to share messages of strength and love as a sign of hope. As the Arts As Healing (AAH) Ambassador, Arty serves as a reminder of the magic of art to heal and to bring people together.

ARCH partnered with local photographers Jeff Hirsch and Burt Remis to capture recognizable landmarks around Florissant, providing an authentic representation of the area. Jessica Hitchcock‘s series of abstract paintings, titled Dancing in the Rain, greet guests with bursts of color at each of the Center’s registration desks. Spanish Lake Park by Doug Weaver depicts the Mississippi River leading to downtown St. Louis and the train tracks that connect North County to the greater metropolitan area. Cbabi Bayoc‘s painting, Intentionality, includes several elements that reference healing, growth, and the strong community at Siteman Cancer Center.

The resulting space reflects the diversity of the surrounding community and helps put patients at ease, with the artwork serving as a positive distraction for patients and families.