The clinical environment inside a hospital is about as far as you can get from the serenity of an old growth forest.
But, thanks to Emily Carr and a generous donor, the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation can now offer the next best thing.
The local McNeill family recently donated Wind in the Wood, a significant piece by the West Coast Canadian art icon from the 1930s, which is now on display outside the foundation’s office.
“More British Columbians go through our hospitals each day than our galleries, and many of these hospital visits are in times of concern or pain,” said Stuart McNeill in a press release. “If our family donation can take someone’s mind off of a difficult situation, for even a moment, then it was worthwhile.”
The foundation is in the midst of building up an art collection that began more than four years ago when the board wanted to adorn the inside of the new HOpe Centre with art that would be as impressive as its exterior architecture, according to Joanne McLellan, director of planned giving for the foundation.
In total, the collection includes about 250 pieces and is valued at more than $1 million, although the Carr is by far the most significant, McLellan said. Other notable B.C. artists in the collection include Ross Penhall, Bobbie Burgers, Cori Creed and Carole Arnston.
McLellan would rather not say what the painting is valued at but the dollar-figure isn’t really relevant as the painting will be staying put. Even with a mandate to raise money for the purchase of hospital equipment, Wind in the Wood will serve a higher purpose where the hospital community, patients and staff can see it.
“There’s research and proof on the healing power of art and I’ve got anecdotal stories all over the place from staff that have had a bad day. They can stop and look at a painting and gather their thoughts,” she said. “Unless there was some dire need for something that couldn’t be fundraised for, I couldn’t see (selling it) happening anytime soon.”
McLellan said she hopes the donation will inspire other collectors to share some of their beauty inside the hospital walls.
“Many people are downsizing and just don’t have room,” she said. Over and above the tax writeoff for the appraised value or recent purchase price of the art, they’ll also get the “enjoyment of knowing their painting is not going to end up in a storage room in the bottom of the (Vancouver Art Gallery),” McLellan added.
“We’ve got lots of walls to fill,” she said.
