Participation Arts

Painting in the Renal Unit

Since May 2012, Anne Hutchison has been working with patients on the renal unit on several art projects. This latest project really encouraged people to open up their imaginations as they were given free reign to paint absolutely anything they chose.

The results were fantastic with patients providing a range of work from copies of the masters to humorous portraits, studies of UK flora and fauna and even some dreamscapes constructed purely from the imagination.

The work is displayed in two locations around the hospital, one collection along the main corridor where it can be seen by the thousands of people who walk past each day and the other collection down the corridor leading to the Renal Unit so that the patients can proudly view their work on their way to dialysis.

Sculptural Wirework

The patients of Ward 16 have just completed another fantastic project with Artist Anne Hutchison. Using colourful wire they have constructed a series of faces, leaves and flower shapes that have been grouped together and framed to create a beautiful collection of the small 3d shapes which is now on display on the ward.

Mosaic Trees

These beautiful mosaic trees were made by Renal Unit patients on dialysis. The project was led by Lesley Seeger, the Arts Development Worker for the Renal Unit in 2012.

Each tree, full of birds, flowers and leaves was cut into small pieces for the patients to work on. The individual pieces of patient mosaic were then brought together in the final design.

The pieces of tile used in the mosaic come from a variety of sources, from tiles donated by staff and patients to old china and crockery found in charity shops.

"Doing the art work you completely forget sometimes that you are on the machine. You get quite engrossed"
"We're not just doing something individual. It's part of a whole...you have a little union between you."
Quotes from patients participating in the project

Celebrating Remembrance Day

To celebrate Remembrance Day in 2011 we organised a programme of live music and a participatory art session with Lesley Seeger in the foyer

Everyone could take part in the memorial collage and throughout the day patients, staff and visitors contributed to the piece, creating a beautiful, colourful field of poppies with lines from 'Flanders Fields,' by John McCrae.

The picture is now in situated in the family room of the Mortuary, brightening up the space and linking in with theme of remembering lost loved ones.

The live music on the day was provided by a barber shop quartet from YSJU and the extremely talented Kieran White who played piano in the foyer.

Cityscape Print Project on Ward 16

Patients and staff have created printed elements of this imaginery historic city, working in the Enhanced Recovery Suite on Ward 16 in 2011.

Contributors have been duly honoured by having a street or building named after them on the signposts dotted around. This piece of work represents many hours spent by lots of patients passing through the ward and has provided a little creativity to help aid their recovery process - very much enjoyed and appreciated by most participants.

This art project was led by artist, Anne Hutchison between January and April 2011.

Collaborative Project with York Quilting Museum

In February 2011, patients in the Renal Unit were involved in a rewarding textile project with the Quilt Museum entitled 'Homes and Gardens'.

This collaborative project was co-led by Sally Sculthorpe, Education Officer at the Quilt Museum and Lesley Seeger, Arts Development Worker for York Hospital Trust.

Butterfly Cloud

This beautiful butterfly cloud was created by patients recovering from surgery on Ward 16 over a period of several months. They enjoyed brief moments of creativity whilst dealing with all the changes they were going through. The poetry on the branches is a selection from famous poets, but also several verses composed by patients themselves.

This art project was led by artist, Anne Hutchison between January and April 2011.

Arts in the renal unit

Artist Lesley Seeger works directly with patients in the renal unit on different art projects whilst they are undergoing dialysis. Using a variety of techniques and materials such as mosaic, pen and ink and painting the patients produce beautiful pieces of art, many of which are displayed in different areas of the hospital.

This is one of the mosaics that the patients have completed. It is now on display at the entrance to the renal unit.

This tree was made as part of an ongoing art project involving patients in our renal unit.

It is going to be used as part of the hospitals' 'way finding' project and will be placed at junction 2.

Buttons and Feathers Project

In February 2009, Artist Lesley Seeger worked with colorectal patients on a twenty-four week collage project. The medium chosen was collage, due to the fact that it is relatively easy to contain and not as potentially messy as painting or mosaic making. The aim of the project was to get patients up and moving after surgery and to improve the quality of their patient care and experience. The finished collages are now on display on ward 16, brightening up corridor spaces for current patients.