The art project is like a ripple effect. Not only has my dad benefited from it, our whole family has.
His garden has never looked as good, it has flourished. The best it has been in years – partly because of the good weather, but mainly because of Dad working with the artist.
It has brought so much joy into Dad’s life. He is chuffed, as are we, that he is now a published author.
When we were thinking about the design of the Saolta Arts logo, we turned to the hospital community for inspiration. Often, a patient’s participation in our arts programme can have a lasting impact for them, and their families, long after they meet our artists on the wards. Luke’s daughter described this as ‘a ripple effect’.
Luke’s conversations with an artist in our Dialysis Arts Programme were the catalyst for family escapades in his garden, sending his grandchildren out to document the parts he could no longer reach. The photographs Hannah and Ellie took became tender talking points in their remaining time together. Describing this as an important “celebration of his life”, his daughter said that, “he and his grandchildren so enjoyed talking about the garden and taking the photographs”.
In the dialysis unit, Luke shared his tips on organic gardening with the artist. These are bound as a cherished legacy in our book, The Magician and the Swallow’s Tale. Though he was proud to have his ideas published, Luke’s interactions with his family were a reminder to us to keep the creative process at the heart of everything we do, and of how our arts programme can touch people in ways we may never know.
The seven circles of the Saolta Arts logo embody ‘the ripple effect’, each one representing a hospital in the Saolta University Health Care Group. Together, the circles resemble a megaphone to symbolise our work to humanize the hospital – allowing the knowledge and skills of its community to be seen and heard.
Logo designed by Hyperlab.
