NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Hanging new art and promoting new hope, the Sentara Brock Cancer Center installed a new loaned art exhibit Wednesday.
“There’s been a growing knowledge of the importance of how art can enliven and vivify people when they’re in a health care setting,” said Sentara Brock Cancer Center’s Art Administrator Staci Katsias.
“We have about 900 patient visits on average daily and so, allowing the wonderful artists to donate their items and just foster some beautifulness in a tough situation,” Patient Experience Consultant Arkeisha Smith said.
Local artist Bob Petersen looked on as staff installed one of his latest works.
“It was a storm,” he said. “I just took the opportunity to go down and see what it was doing with the water and was able to capture something that just brought out the power.”
Art is part of Sentara’s whole body approach to healing patients.
“They love the feeling of seeing something just beautiful around them,” Smith said. “We also have a garden outside that has our signature pieces.”
Looking out the windows from the chemo treatment area, patients can see Cindy’s Quilt, a large mosaic painted on a wall, along with Barbara Kobylinska’s Stargazer sculpture.
She imagines patients looking at her piece and looking up to God.
“I’m looking for the sun, for the beautiful sky and for a future which is ahead of me,” Kobylinska said. “And it’s a happy one, healthy one.”
Vibrant floral photos bring color and joy in dark moments. While Petersen’s ocean storm displays a juxtaposition of chaos and calming colors, much like the cancer journey between diagnosis and healing.
“Through my pieces, if I can give them a little strength and courage, you know, to uplift their day, then I think I’ve reached my goal,” Petersen said.
The loaned art pieces will be on display through April 2025.