Serene images of nature have been shown to reduce stress, calm the mind and promote relaxation, which are great components of health.
Three new buildings on the UCI Health Irvine campus aim to increase wellness with artwork that was curated by a committee led by James Irvine Swinden, former president of The Irvine Museum.
With nearly 250 commissioned pieces – which are displayed in special gold-colored frames – 76 murals and more than 1,300 prints, the highly local display features intricate 3D glass structures, California impressionist paintings, complex textiles, photography and more.
Ellen Khoudari, UCI Health senior project manager, was also part of the committee and explains the group’s goal. “We wanted to capture this area because we know that the science tells us, if a patient, a caregiver or staff member looks at something that is familiar, something that they know about, they will find comfort in that, even if it’s subconscious.”
“My vision was not only to have great art in the hospital from a healing standpoint, but also to have the art resonate with patients by having local scenes, so people could identify with the art they saw.”
James Irvine Swinden
