Artists Circle's Sarah Martin, Principal Jack Devine, and Dan Wasson installing art at a pop-up COVID-19 treatment facility at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
When ZGF Architects reached out to us about donating 440 pieces of artwork to a temporary hospital being built inside the Washington Convention Center, our Principal Jack Devine and COO Katie Giganti jumped at the opportunity. "Artists Circle was honored to be given the opportunity to aid in the global fight against COVID-19. We are glad we could do our small part in brightening the lives of those dealing with this disease," said Jack.
One of the nature-oriented pieces selected to hang in the facility.
Creating 440 pieces of ready-to-hang artwork in less than five days was a feat, but it wasn't as remarkable as the three-week design and construction of a 440-bed facility by Design-Build team Hensel Phelps and ZGF Architects, working with the Army Corps of Engineers and DC Government. The design and construction portion of the project began on April 17th and is being turned over to the DC Government today.
Another nature-inspired image now hanging in the new facility.
The artwork images, a series of uplifting photographs that depict local flora and scenery, was donated by Virginia photographer Angela Pan and Artists Circle's Katie Giganti, who is also a practicing artist. The Artists Circle team worked together to install the artwork in a single day, just prior to the facility undergoing its final disinfecting cleaning before opening.
An image of the field hospital via WAMU.(linked to source)
"The individuals that will be treated or work within this space will be in the thick of a world-wide battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether they will be fighting to survive or to help others survive, they are the center of focus of this crisis. Art has been proven in countless studies to reduce stress, provide positive distraction, and promote wellbeing and improved experiences for patients. The art donated by Artists Circle will help to pull them--even momentarily--out of their current condition and think of other places, times, and experiences in their lives," said Liz Raycroft, Associate at ZGF Architects.
We were honored to work on such an incredible project. It's why we do what we do. Thank you to everyone involved: Hansel Phelps and ZGF architects, the Army Corps of Engineers, our government officials, Angela Pan, and especially our healthcare workers, for all their hard work at the forefront of this epidemic.