Client: Exempla Saint Joseph / Nine Dot Arts

Overview

Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital through Nine Dot Art Consulting Firm purchased Pristas’s original abstract landscape oil painting Astonishment Collector an abstract aspen tree piece with uplifting rich colors and textures. The 36 x 48 oil is now permanently displayed at the nurses station on the Mother Baby Unit 4th floor. The Heritage Project is a replacement hospital scheduled for occupancy January, 2015.

Goals

The goal of the art program was to promote a healing and spiritually nurturing experience that reflects the safe and caring environment of ESJH. The artwork was to engage the internal and external communities that ESJH has served as a faith-based hospital in Denver since 1873.
The key components of the art program was to have original artwork by Colorado artists in the most prominent spaces in the new hospital which integrate with the architecture and design.

Process

Artworks was juried by the Healing Environment Art Committee. The committee was formed of representatives from ESJH, NDA and the design and architecture team. The Art Program Selection Criteria, included the following themes in the call for entry.
Inspiring
Movement (showing life)
Community (Western US, Colorado, Denver, Capitol Hill, ESJH)
Sacred (religious or spiritual)
Hope
Human presence
Uplifting
Grounding
People of diversity
Diversity of materials

Additional Information

Saint Joseph Hospital hosted an artist open house for the artists involved in this project to celebrate and preview the artworks. This allowed the artist to view the integration of the interior design and the selected artworks which was a rare treat.