Featured Artist: Elaine Poggi

"Henry, you asked me to tell you what is unique about what I do.  I photograph nature from around the world (Tuscan hills, Dolomite mountains, Japanese cherry blossoms, the underwater world in the Red Sea and the Maldives, Zanzibar beaches, New England fall scenes, my back yard), then place these photos in healthcare facilities around the world - the USA, Canada, Poland, Kenya, Malawi, Haiti, Japan, India, Italy...

I donate my time, energy and photos to The Foundation for Photo/Art in Hospitals, a non-profit organization which I created four years ago in response to my experience of caring for my mother during her 3 month stay in the hospital. I love what I do and it is my greatest joy to share my talent of photographing our beautiful world with those who are suffering in hospitals."

The photo above shows Elaine's installation at the  children's rehab area at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis. The person standing on the right is the Interior Designer Dianne Stitzlein. She is the owner of DesignStudioOne.inc

Elaine Poggi is a photographer in Florence, Italy. She created the The Foundation for Photo/Art in Hospitals. HealthCare Design Magazine ran a feature article on her work in November 2006.
 

Comments

[Elettra Fiumi]

We tend to associate hospitals with sadness but Elaine's photos change this perception. Her colorful images offer a window of color, memory and discovery which is integral to any healing process. Changing people's lives, room by room, wall by wall...these are the beacons of light and hope our world needs, day by day.

[Linda Cox]

Elaine's photos are a source of peace and comfort to those who are privileged to see them. The beauty and serenity in them provide that comfort and peace during difficult times, even a sense of joy in the midst of difficulties as one views the beauty of God's creation captured as only Elaine can do. Elaine donated some of her photos to the hospital in her home town of Sparta, Illinois. These were in the rooms my mother was in at the hospital during her last weeks here on earth. Since Elaine had been our neighbor and rode the school bus with me (my father was the bus driver), seeing her photos brought a double sense of comfort to us. It was like a good friend was with us during those days. It was my privilege to work with Elaine after the death of both of my parents to donate additional photos to the Sparta hospital and the nursing home in Sparta in honor of both of my parents. Thank you for featuring Elaine on your website so that more people can see the beauty of our world through her eyes.