Healing arts come to La Comunidad Hispana
Something has changed in the waiting area and exam rooms of the LCH Oxford Community Health Center. Thanks to the wonderful efforts of the Oxford Arts Alliance, the blank walls of the recently opened satellite location are now filled with welcoming paintings and photos.
Jay Eaton, Secretary of the Oxford Arts Alliance, met LCH Community Engagement Manager Laura Mackiewicz at a Bridging the Community meeting in Kennett Square last fall. Eaton was in pursuit to find other ways for local artists to get involved with the community, and Mackiewicz was in need of artwork for the new LCH Oxford site, which opened in December, 2015. Eaton proposed the opportunity for artists to temporarily display their work in the waiting area and exam rooms. As of this spring, ten works of art by six local artists: Jay Eaton, Patricia Reese, Marlene Shillenn, Chuck Toppin, Barbara Watson, and Jennifer Wojnar are on temporary display in the LCH Oxford site.
“The art arrangement looks great,” said Eaton. “It adds to the friendly atmosphere that LCH tries to create for all of their patients.” LCH President and CEO Alisa Jones stressed the importance of establishing such a positive environment: “We provide care to the most vulnerable in our community. Many are dealing with multiple crises and problems at home. Being welcoming is one of our core values, and the artwork helps to establish a sense of warmth and hospitality at the very first impression of our health center when a patient walks through our doors.”
LCH Development Director LeeAnn Riloff commented that LCH sees this successful collaboration as an ongoing relationship. “We have some beautiful art on our walls right now,” she said, “but we hope to rotate the displays periodically so that local artists can continue to showcase their work.” LCH and the Oxford Arts Alliance have planned for artwork to be displayed for four months and then returned to the artists.
The public can stop by to view the local artwork any time during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday at the LCH Oxford Community Health Center, 303 North Third Street, Suite #2, Oxford, PA 19363.
Those interested in featuring artwork at LCH in the Oxford site or Kennett Square site should contact Laura Mackiewicz at lmackiewicz@lchps.org or 610-444-7550 X 256.
LCH has served southern Chester County for more than 40 years as a multi-service, bilingual nonprofit that changes lives through Person-Centered Care: health care, social assistance, and education and workforce development. 731 West Cypress Street Kennett Square, PA 19348 610.444.7550 LaComunidadHispana.org
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