On Thursday Sept. 3, 2020, a commemorative “Care” mural was unveiled in the patio of the rotunda building (building 4) at Jacobi Medical Center in the Morris Park section of the Bronx.

 

The idea behind the mural was to promote greater neighborhood wellness, and to help build trust and engagement between the community and the hospital.

 

Designed by artists, Andrei Krautsou and Yulia Puhach, the project was an artistic collaboration with the staff of Jacobi Medical Center, in conjunction with the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. Since Friday, Aug. 21, the project participants had been painting, in stages, the various panels which comprised the mural before it was eventually pieced together for the unveiling.

The image depicts how the beauty of a delicate and fragile flower expresses life, new beginnings and hope, while two hands show how they help protect the flower as it grows. The key theme is one of togetherness and inclusion.

 

Rick Luftglass, executive director at the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, said they had received close to 150 artist submissions for their community mural project which comprises ten separate art projects.

 

“We went through a very rigorous process; interviews, reviewing portfolios etc, and that got us to Andre and Julia who are here today and we’re very honored,” he said. “They have done their work around the world; they’re from Minsk in Belarus, have done work in China and Mexico. They’re architects by training so we’re very honored that they brought their artistry here to Jacobi and the Bronx.”

 

Puhach and Krautsou attended the unveiling event with their son. They said they believe the mural will inspire the hope, joy and happiness of being together. Puhach said she hoped the mural would create an environment in which every individual feels welcomed and valued.

 

“We believe that our mural will inspire people, a lot of people who work here, and who visit the hospital,” she said. “For us, it was a very new experience working with communities so closely, but we can say for 100 percent, we enjoyed it a lot.”

 

She said she also felt fulfilled, and that the couple had improved their skills and pushed themselves outside the box. “I’m also very happy for people who helped us, who took part [in] the paint party and helped us, that they can find their own pieces in our mural and feel themselves as artists. Thank you very much all the people who made this project happen,” she said.

 

Eric Wei MD is vice president and chief quality officer at NYC Health + Hospitals. During his remarks, he reminisced about how people coped both at work and at home during the height of the pandemic. He said there was a particular song the staff played at the hospital to celebrate when somebody was extubated from a ventilator or discharged.

 

He said that when he would later play and draw with his daughters, he would tell them about the song and what it meant for the patients. “They thought every time they asked Alexa to play that song, somebody got better from COVID,” he said.

 

Wei added, “This community mural project last year and this year has been one of my favorites.” He commended the manner in which the artists were selected and was happy with the way the hospital had engaged with the staff, the community, the patients, their families and focus groups in terms of gaining an understanding of what the hospital meant to the community.

 

He went on to say that the project could not have been completed without the support of “Brett, Jan and Laurie” from the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, and that the “Care” mural was part of the hospital’s arts and medicine programming. “It’s the first of this year’s batch of community murals,” he said. “So you know, it makes it very special and [I’m] very excited to be here, and so, congratulations to the Jacobi team, Jacobi leadership. Thank you for all that you do every day.”

Christopher Mastromano is chief executive officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi. He said it had been a wonderful opportunity to lead a health care facility that is part of New York City Health and Hospitals. “My primary focus is on the healing and wellbeing of our patients and the community,” he said.

 

“The act of healing comes from several areas in addition to traditional medicine, and one of those areas is the arts. Arts in health care plays a significant role in soothing and helping to improve a person’s well being. It contributes to their overall wellness. There is, and continues to be more and more medical information on the positive impact that arts have on the healing process, especially in the healthcare setting, and we’re proud to be part of such a journey, especially during the difficult times that we face today.”

 

During her prepared remarks, Mariela Reyes, PH.D. LCP, consultation liaison psychiatry NYC NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, spoke about witnessing togetherness in the community and among patients particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

“Colleagues, the executive office, community members and the artists, I’m super thankful to have had the opportunity to reflect the level of dedication and excellence that Jacobi staff members provide to the community,” she said. “And definitely, as a level one trauma center hospital at the epicenter of a global pandemic, I would certainly say that Jacobi was a pillar of strength.”

Reyes said she witnessed, firsthand, the togetherness, the sense of safety, the humanity provided to the community and to the hospital’s patients during a time of crisis and pain. “This mural represents our commitment to saving lives and caring for others, while also taking stock of the delicateness of life,” she said.

 

She also thanked the artists, as well as the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund and everyone involved in the project.

 

“I look forward to being able to return to this space and remember why I chose a career in health care,” she said. “Overall, this experience highlights the healing power of art; the benefits of diversity and inclusion.”