Health Care Fine Art

Designlog - A blog about all things Interior Design in East Texas

I have Google do automated searches for me to keep track of things. One search is for the name of my business "Henry Domke Fine Art." Today that search turned up a new blog about Interior Design. They had just done a post mentioning my art.

The blog is off to a good start. Some of the topics covered are:

• HealthCare
• Contract Furniture
• Green Design
• Floor Covering
• Trendy Colors

They describe this as "A blog about all things Interior Design in East Texas"
However, I think there topics could be of interest to a much wider audience. Take a look: Click here to link to the blog.

The company creating the blog is DTE Interiors. www.dteinteriors.com
I've done some projects with them and can tell you that they are wonderful people to work with.

Occupational Outlook for Interior Designers

I came across an interesting US Government website describing the outlook for Interior Designers.

They predict a significant growth in the number of Interior Designers. They even mention HealthCare:

Demand for interior design services from the health care industry also is expected to be high because of an anticipated increase in demand for facilities that will accommodate the aging population.

Interior designers held about 72,000 jobs in 2006. Approximately 26 percent were self-employed. About 26 percent of interior designers worked in specialized design services. The rest of the interior designers provided design services in architectural and landscape architectural services, furniture and home-furnishing stores, building material and supplies dealers, and residential building construction companies.

Many interior designers also performed freelance work in addition to holding a salaried job in interior design or another occupation.

This in-depth overview discusses training, income and the nature of the work.

Here is a link to the website: Click here

There is a similar outlook discussions for Architects: Click here and even artists: Click here

Featured Artist: Cai Guo-Qiang

“Transient Rainbow,” 2002 by Cai Guo-Qiang
Realized on New York’s East River, August 29, 2002, 9:30 P.M., fifteen seconds. A thousand three-inch multicolor peony fireworks fitted with computer chips.

This week's New Yorker has an article by Peter Schjeldahl reviewing an exhibit featuring the art of Cai Guo-Qiang at the Guggenheim Museum. Schjeldahl is my favorite art critic, I love his style of writing and I often agree with his judgment.

About Cai Guo-Qiang he writes

He is the innovative master of the medium- the art of making nothing out of something, suddenly... He understands gunpowder as Velazquez understood oil paint.

Certainly art made from exploding gunpowder should never appear in a hospital. However, Cai Guo-Qiang's innovative art is is appealing in many ways.

I'm going to learn more about Cai's work next week since I'm going to be in New York for the Symposium on “The Importance and Value of Art in Health Care". While I'm in New York I'm planing a trip to the Guggenheim.  

The Guggenheim's website has a good introduction on Cai's work. It even includes a video. Click here. 

Click here to read the full text of Peter Schjeldahl's article in the New Yorker.

If you want read a book on Cai, Phaidon published one which I read a couple years ago and enjoyed. Here is a link to it on Amazon: click here

The Henry Ford of the Framing Business

The Chicago Tribune calls Jay Goltz "the Henry Ford of Framing". As I have learned more about him I can see why. Just like Henry Ford, he streamlined the whole framing process by developing systems that would maximize efficiency and minimize errors.

Instead of one person doing the entire framing job, he created an assembly line where different people do different jobs. For example, one might cut the frames, someone else would cut that mats and yet another person assembled the final product and added the wire.

He is also an energetic, charismatic entrepreneur. In addition to running his framing business he has written books, travels to give speeches, has started several related companies and even has a blog.

One nice thing is that he is willing to share a lot of his ideas to help others succeed. A good starting point for this would be his book: The Street Smart Entrepreneur: 133 Tough Lessons I Learned the Hard Way. I read it and enjoyed it. It is a quick read and provides real-world advice that could help many small business owners, not just those that run frame shops.   

Article about him from Inc.com: click here

Here is the website about all of his activities: www.jaygoltz.com

Evidence-based Design in Sweden

Atenga is a Swedish firm promoting Evidence-based Design. I asked Agneta Morelli to tell me a little bit about her company.

"Atenga Health by Design" at first glance looks like an Interior Design firm, but in fact it is much more, yes?

We are not an interior design firm. Our main activity is evidence-based research. We do design assessments, post-occupancy evaluations, observational studies, etc. We focus on the crossing point between design/architecture and human behavior/health in various health care environments.

Our aim is to raise the importance of the physical environment as a crucial part of the healing process by conducting good quality research and research based consultations.

In addition, it's important to move this relatively young research field forward and we like to contribute to this momentum. In order to achieve this, we cooperate with architects and interior designers as well as all health care professionals.

On your website you refer to "People oriented Design" and "the integration of human health factors into place making." Tell us more about that.

People oriented design generally involves the study of how spaces best can serve human needs and desires (psychological, social and behavioral). This includes all users of the space, be it patients, staff or family members, etc.

The approach is often referred to as social design pioneered by Robert Sommer. It emphasizes working with people rather then for them, to involve them in the process of planning and managing spaces. To inform them about the effect of humans on spaces and on how the built environment affects human health and well being.

Integrating human health factors into place making refers to creating settings that match the needs and activities of the users; to change health behavior i.e. enhancing social interaction among institutionalized elderly, increase users sense of personal control, facilitate wayfinding thus lowering stress levels and so on.

You have had several publications in the last few years. Are you actively involved with research at "Atenga Health by Design"?

Yes, this is the core activity of our operation. At the moment I'm involved with a very interesting research study on multi sensory environments in dementia care. We are investigating the use of a Snoezelen type room as an alternative to anti-anxiety or sedative medication for aging residents with agitated or aggressive behaviors.

I'm also planning a research study in the near future, an assessment of the integration of multi sensory environments throughout dementia facilities and how this parallels organizational development.

Who are your clients?

Our clients are private practitioners such as dental practices who are interested in an environment that will reduce anxiety for patients suffering from anxiety and fear of the dental office. Other private practitioners include counselors, psychologists and psychotherapists who want to create a safe and trusting setting for their specific clients.

Facilities for the aging are the biggest category of clients that contact us. In Sweden most facilities are municipal and the government has invested a considerable amount of funding for new facilities that are being planned and built at the moment.

The last category of clients is architecture and design firms that may need a specific research study such as a post occupancy evaluation to improve the quality of their services.

Is Art Selection part of the service that you provide?

Yes it is, usually as part of our general consultation services. We do not actually buy or frame the art work but often give suggestions of placement, material choice, specific artist, image and color choice, etc. As an artist and art-therapist I feel confident of my abilities to provide sound consultations in this area. And I firmly believe that visual art and other art forms such as music significantly contributes to supporting the health processes of the patient or viewer. There is so much interesting research on cultural activity and human health. This is an area I really want to explore further.

Is the idea of Evidence-based Design widely accepted in Sweden today?

It's a difficult question to answer. In one way I would say yes because serious research and evidence based research is a long standing tradition particularly in medicine in this country. At the same time, the interdisciplinary field of healthcare design/architecture to support health and human behavior is not as developed compared to the US.

In my experience it is elderly care that is pioneering the field in Sweden. There is a lot of interest among the general public. However, the field is not fully recognized by the establishment yet. Over here these things take time. Having lived in Canada for fourteen years, the experience can be rather frustrating at times!   

Agneta Morelli lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden.

To visit the website for Atenga Health by Design click here.

New Social Networking site for the Artworld

Artreview.com is a new Social Networking site for the artworld.

The idea behind Social Networking is that it focuses on the building online social networks for communities of people who share interests and activities. In the case of Artreview.com it provides a global forum for discussion, interactivity and debate about art issues.

This site would be useful for Artists, Art Consultants, Interior Designers, Collectors and Critics.

To access all the features of artreview.com you have to register. This simply means entering your name and a password. There is no charge. I've signed up and I encourage you to do the same.

Once you have registered you can:

• Post artwork, blogs, videos and audio and have members rate and comment on it
• Find new artists from around the world
• Keep up to date with news
• Access ArtReview magazine archives
• Find the galleries that represent the artists with ArtFinder
• Create your own discussion groups and forums
• Promote yourself and make friends

Here is how artreview.com describe themselves:

Artreview.com is a unique blend of editorial and community content, combining the insight and critical weight of some of today’s most important artworld voices with the input and opinions of everyday enthusiasts from around the world. artreview.com lets the artworld do the talking.

Artreview.com is based in London.
They also produce a monthly magazine which has the same name.

Big Prints work better in Big Spaces

Epson Stylus Pro 11880 Printer

Large spaces demand large prints. That is why I'm adding a printer to my studio that can print up to 64-inches wide and as long as you want. Now I can make prints 5 x 8 feet in size or larger.

In big rooms, such as the lobbies at the entrance to a hospital, a print 2 x 3 feet in size gets lost. I've had Art Consultants and Designers repeatedly ask me for bigger prints. Now I will have that capability.

Like the other printers in my studio, this printer creates archival prints which will not fade for generations.

Australia's Largest Hospital Art Collection

The Royal Perth Hospital Art Collection is the largest Hospital collection in Australia.  Click here to see more samples from the Art Collection.

They aren't joking when they say large, there are over 1000 paintings, drawings, and wall-based sculptural works on display.

This collection was started in 1954 by an art collector named Sir Claude Hotchin. He "believed that the public should have the opportunity to engage with art in their everyday lives - outside usual art galleries." he was quite an important benefactor to the Arts in Western Australia. According to the post on Wikepedia:

Between 1948 and 1977 Hotchin donated an estimated two thousand original paintings to galleries, hospitals and shire councils throughout the State in an effort to 'stimulate art appreciation'.

I emailed the hospital to ask a few questions:

Who is in charge of the collection?

My name is Lance Hyde and I am the curator of artworks at Royal Perth Hospital,Perth,Western Australia.

Who funds the purchase of new art? Who selects that art? What is the process?

I can send you our policies for the care and handling of art works, the aquisitions process, the committee's involvement in the management of art works in the collection,including how work is selected,the cultural gifts program, donations and ward gifts.

There is no specific policy regarding indigenous or other ethnic works in the collection,WA artists are all treated ethically ,however we follow direction from Indigenous leaders,the artist and community representatives, in the case of regional or spiritural concerns.(This is usually in the Mortuary area of the hospital, or in trauma and emergency areas.)

Is Evidence-based Art considered?

The hospital doesn't have a policy in regard to Evidence-baced Art,however we do follow professional health care recomandations in reference to scenes relating to death and passing,other images that may cause offence,disorientation,or may be too similar to blood.

Anything else you would like to say about the collection?

The collection is over Fifty years old and has 1016 works.Much of the collection was bequeathed to the hospital by Sir Claude Hotchins in 1972,however much of this collection, around 500 works, were already in the hospital.Sir Claude Hotchin believed that the everyday man needed to see art in his daily environment, and that this would be benificial to the patients,visitors and the staff.

How many pieces in the collection are from artists that are not Australian?

This is a little difficult to answer. All the works in the collection are from Western Australian or Australian artists. The question is whether these artists were Australian citizens, or applying to be Australian citizens when their work was purchased.Many of the early works are from new Australians, such as any person who emigrated to the country for work, the gold  and mineral rush, post WW11 immigrants from Greece, (in particular Melbourne, this city has the largest Greek community outside of Athens), many Italians from the depressed rural areas of Italy and countless other Europeans nations.

This mixture is very similar to the United States of America. If the artist wishes to be known as Australian we place this on our documents,often this would include that the artist was born in France, or whatever origin they have.

I would say that at present 97% of the collection is sourced in Australia and represents, mainly Western Australian and Australian cultural heritage. The collection follows a policy of acquiring works that have a local cultural significants, or represents how an artist's work has been evolving over time, say one work from each decade or from an exhibition of importance.

The collection is similar to a State Art Gallery, with a bonus,in that we can collect the smaller less known artists and the new up and coming works in the year of their manufacture. Through auctions and dealers we can also fill the gaps in the collection, and have a very comprehensive body of work.

The hospital sometimes receives donations or gifts,that are made to the hospital wards, in this case the artwork is not in the collection, it is classed as ward furniture, however it may be from African or South America.

The image above is from the collection. It was created in 1998 from Acrylic, red ochre and gold on canvas. Size: 40.5(H) x 27.7(W) cm

Bat's Tounges in Scottish Hospital Art Exhibit

Bat tongue by Kevin Mackenzie

Kevin Mackenzie has an unusual art exhibit up at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. His diverse subjects range from the hairs from a ladybird foot to mildew. Despite such seemingly creepy subject matter, many of the images are quite beautiful. Click here to see them.

By taking pictures using a variety of microscopes, he focuses in on the patterns of nature that we can't see with our eyes. These are not simply pictures from a camera. Electron Microscopes produce images that are black and white. He adds color which makes them much more appealing.

I asked Kevin a few questions:

Do you have any training in Art? Are you collaborating with any artists on this project?

I have no training in art, but have a developed a keen interest through my work, in photography and digital image manipulation with Photoshop. It is all my own work, the hardest part was sometimes deciding what colours to use.

When and how did you happen to decide to create art out of what you were seeing under the microscope?

I have been using microscopes for over 20 years and having looked a whole range of samples. I started taking some pictures that were more artistic than scientific ("pretty pictures"). Via a contact in the hospital I was offered to hold an exhibition (my problem again was trying to decide what images I was going to use out of all the hundreds I have).

What has been the reaction of the patients, staff and visitors?

The reaction so far has been very positive and has generated a lot of interest and have currently sold 13 of my pictures.

Mr Mackenzie is a technologist in the university's microscopy and imaging facility at the Institute of Medical Sciences

Click here to read the media release.

Featured Artist: William Littlewood

"Autumn Gold" by William Littlewood.

William Littlewood is a Canadian Nature Photographer who makes prints that should work well in HealthCare settings. For example, the picture shown above (Autumn Gold) should work perfectly in a patient room. I asked Bill to tell me a bit about that picture:

The architecture of the large boulders with the contrasting golds of the Autumn foliage struck me as I hiked upstream in the Spencer Gorge Wilderness Area.  Spencer Creek gently trickled and tinkled over the stones and rock ledges bringing  an even greater peaceful feeling to the scene.  My spirits rose at the sight and the sound.  I would hope that people who find themselves in need of a Healthcare facility would also be uplifted when in the presence of this landscape photograph.

Despite his excellent work, there are a few minor issues that bug me:
1. He calls his prints "Giclée". Click here to read why that word bothers me.
2. He sells only Limited Editions. Click here to read why I think that doesn't make sense.
3. Each image has his name prominently centered. Click here to read about my objection to Watermarks. 

Bill lives in Ancaster, Ontario.
His website is: www.williamlittlewood.com