Client: AtlantiCare Foundation

Overview

This commission was created for AtlantiCare’s Manahawkin, NJ building as part of their Healing Arts Program. The Health Park is on the main road to Long Beach Island, a barrier island which is only a mile from the mainland of New Jersey. LBI, as it is known, has already witnessed a sea level rise of 6 inches and expecting greater rises in the future. Parts of the island were significantly damaged during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Marsh is a triptych of nearby marshlands combining my original photos, paintings, hand stitching and applied metallic accents to catch the light.

Dimensions:
Each panel is 48″ high x 55.5″ wide.
Materials: Paint, pigment, dye, foil, thread on industrial textile. Aluminum armature.

Goals

The theme of the building reflects the surrounding wetlands and supports the theory of evidence-based design for healthcare applications. Marsh reminds the viewer about our human presence in an area which must be protected from environmental dangers. Patients and visitors can examine the art to imagine the nearby location and know that they are not far from home during what is typically a stressful situation.

Process

I met with the Cultural Project Coordinator prior to awarding the project. During construction, I sent progress photos every few weeks. At hanging I worked closely with the installation crew ensure that the work was form fitted to the wall and placed correctly. AtlantiCare has been a joy to work with on my many projects with them.

This triptych combines my original photos layered with three individual paintings. To create texture, I hand stitched patterns and applied metallic accents to catch the light. Since the wall is curved, it was necessary to create work that would conform to the surface specifications. The work hangs on hidden aluminum armatures. The triptych measures 4 feet by 14 feet, heat transferred with dye-sublimation technology, added paint, hand stitched and foiled on an industrial textile.