marking the transition: arts & healthcare

A series of site – specific artworks for a newly built Health Centre in Bristol, UK

artists: Annie Lovejoy & Mac Dunlop (InSites design)

clients: GP Partners of Bedminster Family Practice

In 2002, due to the surgery premises at Dean Lane being inadequate for such a large practice, the GP partners decided to buy part of a new development in Bedminster, and were keen to provide an uplifting, inspiring interior that would have benefits for both patients and staff.

The incorporation of artworks into the new surgery environment was led by practice partner Dr Gillian Rice, who raised the funding whilst maintaining a busy medical practice.

This is a unique model of Arts in Healthcare driven by the vision & commitment of the GP partners. The arts production was managed directly by the artists in close liaison with the partners; by taking on the management as a team, almost 100% of the budget (over half of which, was provided by the GP partners) was available to be spent directly on production of the commissioned art.

Seven new commissions were created for the glazed entrance foyer, atrium space, waiting area and upstairs meeting room. All of the works were designed to be cohesive in relation to each other and the architectural aspects of the building. The close liaising of the GP partner / artists team influenced the overall functional interior design: materials / colours etc resulting in a holistic, uplifting and relaxed environment

The artworks are inspired by relational qualities pertinent to the location; its’ physical aspects, functionality and most importantly
… the aspirations, and experiences of staff and patients.
(see project pdfs for more details)

evaluation:
In 2005 Dr Gillian Rice received a significant research award from NHS Estates to evaluate the effect of the new enhanced premises on staff / patient well-being. The results of which will be published in a peer journal in 2006

UPDATE 2009: article in the British Journal of General Practice

Enhancing a primary care environment: a case study of effects on patients and staff in a single general practice

Authors: Rice, Gillian; Ingram, Jenny; Mizan, Jacques
Source: British Journal of General Practice, Volume 58, Number 552, July 2008 , pp. e1-e8(1)
Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners

Project Funders: GP partners, ACE South West, Arts & Business, the Irene Wellington Educational trust, the Quartet Community Foundation

for further information see PDF(s):

BFP project overview  (276KB)

information re. the development and outcomes
of the Bedminster Family Practice project

Marking the Transition  (298KB)

involving staff & patients

responses  (266KB)

staff / patient responses and reviews:
Venue Magazine, Bristol
Pulse, Medical Magagazine

arts funding  (23KB)

article on arts funding by Dr Gillian Rice
for Pulse medical magazine March 2006

research protocol (Dr Gillian Rice)  (44KB)

NHS Estates has awarded Dr Rice funding to investigate the effects of an enhanced surgery environment on patients and staff

The Entrance Foyer Glazing & Signage;

The entrance glazing is a rich and mesmerising play of texture, translucency, reflection and colour; experienced intimately on entering the surgery, whilst also being a vibrant and beautiful focal point from afar.

image source: Cornish rock face veined with quartz.

Materials:
Doors:  Double Glazed Units containing laminated shot silk (blue/gold)

Side panels:  Double Glazed Units containing laminated high resolution photographic transparencies (inside pane) and etched / routed glass painted copper/gold (outside pane)

The signage  is designed in the handwriting of Dr Ian Garbutt (GP Practice Partner) materials: laser cut aluminium diabond with blue backlighting mounted on aluminium back panel.

commissioned specialist skills:
high res photography –  Alan Russell

suppliers:
Fusion Glass Design
Kings Plastics Ltd

for further information see PDF(s):

Entrance Foyer glazing (1.1MB)

concept, design and production details

Entrance Foyer Glazing (detail from street)

High-resolution transparent images of rock surfaces form the sides of the entrance, fading to clear glass at eye level.

The rock veins are then isolated and overlaid as etched patterns onto the outer double glazed pane and highlighted in copper / gold paint. They rise over the photographic imagery to continue up into the glazing of the floor above.

The doors contain laminated crushed shot silk – the colours of which change between blue and gold, as they move across the photo / etched side panels.

The Atrium light feature

This centrepiece, hangs in the surgery atrium above the reception desk, and visibly responds to changes in temperature levels.

The LED colour changing technology combined with sensor led electronics was developed in collaboration with Mark Newbold, an electronics engineer.

This “thermometer” displays changes via routed & etched acrylic panels creating an aesthetic and educational focal point.

The 10 panels hang from a stainless steel frame shaped in the form of the Caduceus, a well-known medical symbol.

suppliers:
perspex etch & LEDs  Barlite

for further information see PDF(s):

Atrium light feature  (378KB)

 full project details on sensor-led light feature

The Atrium light feature

..the hanging panels echo the etched rock viens of the entrance glazing.

Each panel changes subtly through a cycle of colour, which is part of an overall spectrum from blue (cold) to hot (yellow / orange).

The panel that indicates the current temperature is recognized due to it being off-white and static. The temperature level is written on each panel in Celsius and represents the starting degree of a 3-degree temperature band.

The feature consumes less power than a 100 watt lightbulb to generate the LED lighting cycles

Aquarium with text

The ‘art wall’ in the new surgery houses a 2.5m long aquarium – a large-scale contemplative and aesthetic re-invention of the much loved fish tank at the former surgery in Dean Lane.

This is the  hearth  of the waiting area, its’ flame being a real time display of bubbles which act as natural lenses to changeable texts generated through poetry workshops led by Mac Dunlop

The monitor display is incorporated within the background image of the tank, and is connected to a camera receiving live images from a specially designed bubble apparatus.

aquarium monitor display

The inclusion of live input via the ‘bubble apparatus’ was inspired by wanting to move beyond ‘text’ as inscribed ‘surface’ eg. written / carved / image 2D or 3D work.

In terms of a ‘permanent’ public artwork, a potential for change is introduced, pertinent to future participatory activities.

The ‘aquascape’ houses a bed of quartz, citrine and amethyst crystal, interspersed with specially commissioned blown glass by artist Sue Nixon

These glass / text spheres sit on a bed of natural crushed coral and tufa rock resonating with the monitor display of poetry bubbles.

The aquarium is stocked with approx 40 varying species of Lake Malaw Cichlids.

supliers:
Aquatak
Crystals and Fossils UK

update Oct 2007
I secured funding to hold some arts sessions for patients. I called them “Never too late to create” and aimed them at older patients with anxiety, depression and/or social isolation. They’ve been running really well since May 07 (led by artist Eleanor Glover and poet Claire Williamson) and this ‘term’ they’re writing poetry and extracts will be used in the fish tank word bubble. So our goal of using the word bubble for continuing creative expression from patients has been achieved.

Dr Gillian Rice.

for further information see PDF(s) :

aquarium  (552KB)

aquarium project details

Glazed areas:
ground floor waiting room
& first floor meeting room

The corner glazing is a prime focus, particularly after dark when the site is still busy with late night shoppers, creating an atmospheric presence for the surgery, within the immediate environment.

At ground level, the waiting room houses a feature window visible from either approach via the Asda car park, or from Bedminster parade.

The central pane of the upper half of this window features a large format photographic image of an Alium head, referencing the important role that plants play in health & medication.

Below this, spanning the 3 lower panes of the window & visible only to the outside, is a back lit highly detailed image of roots combined with text from Gerard’s Herbal; & subtly layered with the word ‘family’ written in a variety of languages (inclusive of sign language) familiar to the surgery community.

The first floor windows above depict blades of wheatgrass speckled with dew – a continuation of growth from the roots below.

high res source images:  Alan Russell

suppliers:
Artworks Ltd

Fusion Glass design

for further information see PDF(s):

Glazed Areas (1.1MB)

details of glazing for meeting room & waiting areas

waiting room window – Alium seedhead

A high resolution photographic transparency is laminated & embedded in the double glazed unit (view from inside).

meeting room windows (detail)

These windows change dependent on the light & time of day due to a layering of photographic image combined with opaque & transparent film.

Blades of wheatgrass are depicted which hold small drops of dew. A dappled light is created by visually enhancing the dew and combining photographic film with frosted vinyl etch – out of which clear circles have been cut.

Waiting room: 3 poetry panels

A visual & poetic ‘memorial’ to the former surgery at Dean Lane; produced in response to patients & staff being apprehensive about leaving the old surgery because of their long association with the GP Practice & familiarity with the building.

These 200 x 1000m panels are the same dimensions as the atrium light feature panels, which hang above the reception area.

They are situated on the wall of the waiting room and convey subtly combined hand written poetry by Alyson Hallett  with photographic images of the former surgery by Annie Lovejoy.

Displayed on photographic film backed with vinyl etch and slightly offset from the wall, a soft shadow appears through the surface.. .a memory, a mark of transition.

I’d carve a world for you,
press chisel to air, make mountains
and waves, a fine wooden chair.

I’d bloom a garden for you,
summon sweet-peas from soil, lace light
with birds and bees in flight.

Beloved, I’d open a sky for you,
constellate stars, a sun, a moon,
the fragrance of honeysuckle on a July afternoon

for further information see PDF(s):

poerty panels  (213KB)

process and production details