Northeast Georgia Health System

Gainesville, Georgia
Architect: HKS
18,000 Square Feet, Art Count: 38
Art Budget: $128,000
Timeline: June 2008 – April 2009

The Art Committee at Northeast Georgia wanted to surround patients, visitors and staff members with visual reminders of the natural beauty in Northeast Georgia as seen through the eyes of local artists. Throughout their interior and exterior hospital journey, visitors now experience life in Gainesville, Georgia including glimpses of Lake Lanier, the Smokey Mountains, Georgia wildflowers, and nearby orchards.

Donor sponsored art created a vertical art gallery featuring original works by local artists in the elevator lobby on each of hospital’s seven floors. DAS proposed decidedly different local art themes on each floor. The first floor celebrates Georgia songbirds while art on additional floors features nearby streams, dogwoods through the seasons, wildflowers and views of the nearby mountains. Varying art subject matter continues to help visitors identify hospital floors and units thereby serving as natural way-finding elements.

Donor involvement in the process was encouraged. DAS worked with the donor family to identify and select preferred views of their favorite Georgia wildflowers which were then translated into photo realistic oil on canvas paintings.