Pictured: Trudy Wiesenberger and Thomas F. Zenty III
of University Hospitals
“The variety of media is intended to provide warmth, texture and depth to the healing environment,” says Wiesenberger. “We strive to make the hospital a welcoming place. The art at University Hospitals is meant to engage the head and the heart, the body and the brain.”
There was already a long tradition of using art in the buildings of the Cleveland Clinic, but until 2006, the hospital never had a curator. That year, the Clinic created an art program with the mission, “Medicine may cure you, but art will heal your spirit.” It is part of the hospital’s Art and Medicine Institute.
Under Cohen’s direction as art curator, the collection today includes more than 4,000 pieces, including site-specific commissioned art.
Cleveland Clinic President and CEO Delos M. “Toby” Cosgrove understands what a difference art makes in people’s lives, which makes this program possible, Cohen says.
“We really wanted to enhance the patient experience,” says Cohen. “Essentially, hospitals are a hard place to be in.”
An animated film by Jennifer Steinkamp that shows a tree changing seasons in a video loop is a good illustration of the healing power of art.
“So often somebody walks by and captures it on their cell phone,” Cohen says. “Kids will hug and want to interact with it. The effect it has is palpable.”
Cohen uses fine art and posters throughout the patient rooms and hallways. One of the patient television stations shows a tour of hospital art set to soothing music.
Patients say a single piece of art can take away some of the pressure of their stay. Some come to the hospital when they are well, to take a self-guided audio art tour.
“We want to give you a moment of levity, beauty, humor,” Cohen says, “anything that will in some way help you get through that.”
— Susan Ruiz Patton