More community art decorating halls of RVAP

Another set of paintings has been added to the halls of Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital (RVAP). 

Accessible from both the east and west entrances of the hospital, eight new paintings by local amateur artists have been hung for the enjoyment of patients as well as visitors and patients. The paintings hang on walls near the hospital's Cardiac Diagnostics Department, on the main floor.

Two of the paintings are by members of RVAP's own Auxiliary, and one by a staff member, while the rest come from members of the community. On hand with their paintings for the installation, Sept. 28, were Norma, Christine, Gilbert, Louise and Richard, while Paul, Sylvia and Judith couldn't attend. The five on hand all had interesting comments on their work and their pleasure in sharing their art with the public.


Norma: "It's exhilarating that people will see my work." She added that she's been painting for about 15 years now and her favourite subject is house, although her painting is of wildlife, and that's something new for her.

Christine: Displaying her work is something new, although she said "I've always painted and drawn, all of my life". She has simply, as a rule, not framed and put her work on exhibition before.

Gilbert: In describing his sunny work, said, "It was winter and I was craving for some sun!" His piece came together quickly, he added and "it took on a life of its own, with the palm tree becoming a part of it."

Richard: A return artist along with Gilbert, having another piece on display in another location in the hospital, Richard said of the larger artwork "This is more my comfort zone". His piece is titled "Sky" and he explained that "boats enthrall me." The work was inspired by having grown up in the tropics, he added and "is typical of my work."

Louise: A relative newcomer to art, painting for a little more than two years, Louise's work is an abstract. She said she has really come to enjoy painting because of the use of colour and of note in her work, she said "I title all of my paintings after songs. The lyrics inspire my work and this one is inspired by a Cat Stevens song. It's a really happy song, so i wanted to make something bright and happy."

Special thanks to RVAP OR nurse, Alma Kelley, for organizing the display.

To see pictures from the installation, visit the Foundation's Flickr page.