Working in partnership with hospital leadership, Aesthetics created a fundraising strategy whereby The Presidents Collection: Commissioned Arts Giving Catalogue was created to invite patrons to sponsor individual art works to be created by Michigan artists.
The book featured the concepts and samples to demonstrate the size, scope and nature of each to be commissioned work.
Through a Call for Art process, more than 200 Michigan artists submitted samples of their work and concepts for consideration, and 81 were selected to provide art for seven floors of the new South Patient Tower. More than 420 pieces have been acquired for this new patient tower art program. The wide variety of media selected includes sculpture, two- and three-dimensional original commissioned artworks, mixed-media art, glass, mosaics, fabric, and photography.
The President’s Collection highlights 42 pieces that were especially commissioned as focal points in the new South Patient Tower. These distinguishing pieces are located in the main lobby, public elevator lobbies, unit clerk stations, waiting rooms and end corridor niches. The balance of the pieces form an integral and vital part of the décor in corridors, patient rooms, and conference and consultation areas.
Aesthetics’ ability to work with our organization, our associates and volunteers, as well as community members of our committees, was extraordinary and resulted in a project that has been universally accepted by all stakeholders in our organization. The most interesting result of the project was the uncovering of an exceptional base of local artists, who now have their work permanently displayed in the organization and take pride in the fact that they are supporting their local health care system. We continue to get positive comments on this project, and for the coordination and professionalism that was demonstrated in creating this project with the art community. I am very proud of the work that we did with Aesthetics and with the results that were achieved.”
~Jack Weiner, President and CEO, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, Pontiac, Michigan
