NYC Health + Hospitals on July 1 unveiled a new mural as part of the Community Mural Project run by the health system’s Arts in Medicine department. The Waves of Healing mural at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx, was developed by artist Sophia Victor through a series of focus groups with community members, staff and patients. The mural was brought to life at a paint party where the Bronx community was invited to paint the mural together.
“This mural has truly been an enjoyable and collaborative experience,” said artist Sophia Victor. “It has been an honor to work with the North Central Bronx staff and to guide them through a fast and intimate design process. I feel grateful that this work will live in a place where it is appreciated and will inspire so many. I thank God for the opportunity.”
Waves of Healing is one of seven new murals that will be created this year, adding to 37 murals created at NYC Health + Hospitals since 2019. The first wave of the Community Mural Project is featured in a new book, Healing Walls: New York City Health + Hospitals Community Mural Project 2019-2021. The Community Mural Project is made possible through the support of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.
Waves of Healing represents the loving care staff strive to give to patients, families, and each other. In the mural, a smiling doctor listens to an infant’s heartbeat, a physician bows her head and smiles toward a child and a nurse listens to an elder.
At its focal point, seven figures rise from two hands that reach toward each other, representing the care at the foundation of the hospital. The bed of vibrant flowers illustrates joy, inclusivity, and the importance of nature in healing, while the sun represents hope and light. Colorful birds encircle the figures. Flowing and rising from the center are healing waves and clouds that welcome the community and represent the connections within the hospital’s community.
“Sophia Victor’s mural, Waves of Healing, illuminates Arts in Medicine’s health justice strategy by highlighting the important work of our staff and the way they care for our patients and families and one another,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Assistant Vice President of Arts in Medicine Larissa Trinder. “This beautiful mural’s tender depictions of our staff engaging in their work will be a permanent reflection of the shared experience of healthcare workers and remind them how cherished they are every day.”
Laure Tisch, founder and president of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund added, “There are decades of research showing that engaging in the arts has a positive impact on health. Sophia Victor’s Waves of Healing is a joyful, beautiful addition to the hospital that will be a source of pride and enjoyed by staff, patients, and all who enter the facility. It is a testament to the love and care patients receive at North Central Bronx, and we are proud to have helped make it possible.”
For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
