Area artists’ work to enhance ‘the art of wellness’ in Altru’s new hospital

SOURCE: GRAND FORKS HERALD | Pamela Knudson

This sketch, titled "Ephemeral Facets," represents the 22-foot-by-8-foot mural Pirjo Berg plans to paint later this month on an interior wall near the entrance of the new Altru Hospital. Contributed

Fifteen area artists have been commissioned to produce artwork that will be displayed throughout the new Altru Hospital, which is set to officially open in January, Altru Health System officials said.

Construction of the new hospital is expected to be completed Oct. 1. After all systems are checked and approved as functioning correctly by “regulatory bodies and other partners, the first day that patients will (receive care) is planned for Jan. 19,” said Annie Bonzer, Altru’s director of strategy and communications. The hospital is “on track” to meet that target, she said.

A Sunday was chosen for the opening because that “is a better day to … have more staff to help out, generally hospital census is lower, and patients receiving elective procedures don’t usually have them on Sunday,” Bonzer said.

Meanwhile, final touches to the building’s interior will include placement of artwork by regional artists that reflects the environment and culture of this area.

Altru has partnered with the Public Arts Commission (PAC) of Greater Grand Forks to establish the art collection, which will “create a calming, supportive and healing atmosphere for patients, families and Altru staff,” according to the health system’s announcement.

The collection will be “an important addition to our ‘Art of Wellness’ collection” displayed in Altru’s South Campus, Bonzer said.

“Throughout the entire process of designing our new hospital, we have focused on the power of healing through nature, light and a calming environment,” she said. “We are thrilled to partner with PAC to establish an art collection that enhances the healing environment even further.”

Project purpose
In carrying out this project, the goal “is to showcase an array of local talent in landscape painting, photography and sculpture, capturing the diverse elements of the natural world,” said Vickie Arndt, curator for PAC. “By doing so, we aim to create an engaging and inspiring environment for a wide audience, including patients, visitors and staff at the hospital. This collection will highlight the beauty and tranquility of nature, offering a moment of respite and reflection for all who experience it.”

As project curator, Arndt said, “my goal is to craft a narrative of place and culture that is inclusive and resonant within the wider art world.”

She selected art that explores “diverse perspectives, encompassing site-specific commissions and new acquisitions with local and regional artists,” she said. “This collection will enhance the internal and external environment and reflect the rich diverse cultural heritage of our local artistic community.”

Arndt selected certain pieces of art for specific places, such as the maternity floor, the entrance and cafeteria, she said. “It’s not just picking a painting and hanging it on a wall. It’s a thoughtful collection.”

The focus is on color and images, she said. “If you have to sit (waiting) for surgery, what do you want to look at? It can’t be anything (distressing), and nothing red,” she said, a reminder of blood.

Artists whose work will be displayed are: Todd Hebert, Micah Haji-Sheikh, Jolene Mikkelson, Kelly Thompson, Adam Kemp, Hillary Kempenich, Michael Conlan, Jason Restemayer, Jessie Thorson, Paul Gronhovd and Senta Lauren, all of Grand Forks; Pirjo Berg, a longtime Grand Forks resident who recently moved to New Mexico; Casey Opstad, who grew up in Grand Forks and lives in Brooklyn, New York; Walter Piehl of Minot; and Haley Brothers of Shakopee, Minnesota.

Most of the artwork will be installed in the hospital the week of Nov. 18, Arndt said.

“It’s a great opportunity for my artists,” she said. “It’s really neat — and it’s been fun to do.”

Related plans at Altru call for designating specific areas for rotating galleries and expanding the art collection throughout the hospital. This display space will be used for exhibits by the North Dakota Museum of Art and UND Art Collections, Arndt said.

Experienced curator
Altru officials asked Arndt to organize and curate this project, based on her professional experience. She spent 30 years in the art world in New York, including work as an exhibitions manager for the Dia Art Foundation, before retiring and returning to her hometown four years ago.

“I’m used to (managing) very big projects,” Arndt said. “I organize everything and keep everyone on track.”

She wrote and submitted a proposal for this project and has been working on it since early spring, she said. “It’s a lot of work. I’m quite proud of it.”

She is spearheading the project with Jill Nelson, PAC vice chairperson.

“This is such an amazing project for our area,” Nelson said. “Altru’s commitment to the local arts community can be seen through this entire project – by working with regional arts groups and regional artists, they are showcasing the vast talent and culture we have within our community.”

A 15-foot-wide painting by Todd Hebert, "Three Bubbles, and a Snowman," will be part of the collection of artwork that will be displayed throughout the new Altru Hospital.

Arndt brings her professional experience, as well as involvement with the annual The Art of Giving (TAG) shows and teaching art at UND, to this project, she said. “When I moved back to Grand Forks, it was incredible to me … that there is (so) much talent here.”

She felt there was enough talent to be able to fulfill the commission requirements.

“I picked people who, I knew, could really do the task,” she said, enlisting artists “who had vision, and who I thought were really good. …”

After initial discussions with Arndt, the artists submitted sketches of the proposed work, all of which she approved.

Artist Casey Opstad said, “My work is the right piece for the right place, and it’s the right time. White-walled galleries and museums are no longer the exclusive domains of art. Today, art exists out in the world, where life unfolds.

“Hospitals are unique spaces — crossroads where significant moments in people’s lives occur. I want my paintings to be there with them, to offer solace, hope and a connection to something greater during these pivotal times.”

Highlighting talent
“We are lucky to have an incredible art community in our region,” Bonzer said, “and want to celebrate the artists who bring it to life.”

Arndt has worked to help area artists “gain recognition and respectability,” and this project will advance that mission, she said.

“I’ve asked my local artists to ‘go big’,” she said, because most of them are not used to creating very large work, due insufficient studio space. At least four or five art pieces will be much larger in scale than normal.

Pirgo Berg has been invited to paint a 22- by 8-foot mural on a wall near the hospital’s entrance, Arndt said. And Todd Hebert, associate professor in the UND Department of Art and Design, is working on a 15-foot-wide painting for another area.

“As a curator, I believe that artistic engagement with nature brings us closer to the origins of art itself,” Arndt said. “These visions invariably capture a human presence, providing a context for people to tell stories and find meaning in the world they inhabit.

“This engagement with nature not only reflects our connection to the environment but also deepens our understanding of ourselves and our place within it. By integrating natural elements into art, we create a space where viewers can experience a sense of belonging and discover new perspectives on the world around them.”

This hospital project is “super-important for the local art community,” Arndt said, noting that Altru has committed a “tremendous budget” for it.

“That means local support — and that means everything to everybody here.”