Adorning the wall outside the Board room of Steward Medical Group is an abstract painting called “Expressionism Explosion.” The painting evokes memories of fireworks lighting up the night sky over Boston’s Fourth of July celebration, as well as the iconic Impressionistic style of a Claude Monet masterpiece.
The painting is an original by artist Randy Nicholson, an artist with ArtLifting, a Boston-based social benefit organization whose art is created by artists whose lives are impacted by homelessness or disabilities. Nicholson’s work is one of 14 paintings by five artists whose artworks were installed in the vibrant offices at Steward Medical Group at the historic Riverbend complex on Galen Street. Nicholson, whose life is impacted by bipolar disorder, says people’s appreciation of his artwork makes him feel “validated” not just as an artist, but as a person.
“I like to express myself in a way that uses color, movement, and composition to engage the viewer in an emotional conversation,” he said in a statement. “I painted this piece during a time of overwhelming thoughts and feeling that seemed to surround me and needed to be released upon the canvas.”
Steward Medical Group, one of the largest multispecialty physician groups in the country recently relocated its corporate headquarters to the historic Riverbend complex in Watertown at 9 Galen St. While giving a new work home to more than 100 employees from the Greater Boston region, the renovated mill space also provides the backdrop for the vibrant artwork. The medical group is a division of Steward Health Care, the nation’s largest private, for-profit physician-led health network.
“We’re proud to have partnered with ArtLifting and to showcase their artists’ unique, creative, and inspiring work at Steward Medical Group,” said Dr. Sanjay Shetty, president of Steward Medical Group. “The art is thought-provoking and a beautiful addition to the surroundings our employees work in every day. It also connects us to the greater community that we serve and underscores the importance of access to health care.”
The renovation of Steward Medical Group’s approximately 13,500-square-foot space preserved the original 1900 brickwork of the former Lewando’s French Dyers and Cleaners, marrying it with accent walls in vivid hues of yellow and turquoise, with striking lime green pillars. The space also includes four state-of-the-art conference rooms, kitchen facilities for employees, a mothers’ room, and employee lounge. The renovation was completed by GenCon. Among the brightly colored walls of the office, the works from ArtLifting stand out.
“Steward is an excellent example of a company who saw the opportunity to utilize art on their walls to represent their values and mission - and engage and inspire their employees,” said Christina Bailey, Chief Growth Officer at ArtLifting. “ArtLifting’s artists are all touched by the healthcare system in one way or another bringing a unique connection to the work Steward employees are doing on a daily basis.”
Among the collection are several works by artist Scott Benner. He is an artist who experiences cluster headaches and at times bouts of confusion due to a medical condition. His artwork has been a solace to him after he experienced being homeless and jobless.
“I’ve always felt that my work draws people to look at it and see things on their own,” he said in a statement. “I’ve always liked the idea that someone can get lost looking at the detail and take a mental break from their surroundings and troubles.” He also appreciates that his work ignites conversations. “Knowing that my art has the power to do those things and that people want it to be a part of their everyday life is very rewarding.”
Works by artist Nick Morse also add a dose of color and energy to the working environment. Morse, who is autistic and is non-verbal, uses his artwork to express himself. His father, Steve, says Morse’s ability to mix colors is “an inspiration” and that his son revels in people’s appreciation of his work.
“He works purely on inspiration and his art has given him an enormous boost in self-esteem,” he said in a statement. “His eyes light up when someone compliments him. And, from a father’s perspective, let me say that is the greatest feeling in the world.”
To learn more about Steward Medical Group, visit: www.stewardmedicalgroup.org
About Steward Health Care
Steward Health Care is the nation’s largest private, for profit physician led health care network in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Steward operates 36 hospitals in the United States and the country of Malta that regularly receive top awards for quality and safety. The company employs approximately 40,000 health care professionals. The Steward network includes multiple urgent care centers and skilled nursing facilities, substantial behavioral health services, over 7,900 beds under management, and approximately 2.2 million full risk covered lives through the company's managed care and health insurance services. The total number of paneled lives within Steward's integrated care network is projected to reach three million in 2018.
The Steward Health Care Network includes five thousand physicians across 800 communities who help to provide more than 12 million patient encounters per year. Steward Medical Group, the company's employed physician group, provides more than six million patient encounters per year. The Steward Hospital Group operates hospitals in Malta and nine states across the U.S., including Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah.
About ArtLifting
ArtLifting is a social enterprise that sells and licenses artwork created by talented artists who are homeless or living with disabilities. Through partnerships with socially-conscious companies, we create opportunity, empowerment, and validation for 145 artists in 20 states across the country. ArtLifting customers include FedEx, PayPal, Freddie Mac, LinkedIn, and Google.