Employee Inspiration during COVID-19: Art Projects
The Center for Healthy Minds and Practice and UF Health Employee Wellness launched an initiative, where employees were invited to share what it has been like to be part of this challenging time.
COVID-19 has quickly changed our lives in ways we could never have imagined. The Center for Healthy Minds and Practice and UF Health Employee Wellness launched an initiative, where employees were invited to share what it has been like to be part of this challenging time by submitting a story, a piece of artwork or even a recipe or drink they created.
We felt it would be powerful to share some of the great contributions from employees, starting with artwork. We hope this inspires others outside of our enterprise as we all continue to power through the pandemic.
UF Health North registered nurse Amanda Hays had to get creative with her kids for their at-home schooling during the pandemic.
UF Health Community and Family Medicine physician Dr. Judella Haddad-Lacle put her creative skills to the test and painted this "COVID fields" piece.
UF Health emergency preparedness manager Jennifer Silvey-Cason uses painting as a stress reliever. She describes this piece as, "COVID brought tears that fell down my face like hot wax from a candle - Fear Anxiety rotated in my head like a tornado. Found peace and strength in God."
Antoine Rose, a clerical associate, named this piece "It's Not Xmas." Antoine said, "COVID-19, racial injustice, protests, riots and unemployment has taken joy from many of us but this is not the end ... there is HOPE! This painting is an overview of today's circumstances and the hope that is unwavering and unmoved for every person and every household."
Medical director of UF Health Corporate Wellness Dr. Mark McIntosh submitted this piece, originally painted by his wife. He said, "Last year my wife painted this picture for me as a birthday present. It is an abstract painting of the event described in Matthew 8:23-27 where Jesus calms the storm. The promises found in the Scriptures of my faith have been a tremendous source of strength as I have found myself, like all of us, in the COVID Storm. This painting and gift reminds me of the blessings that we have and the confidence to know that we will get through this storm. As an artist my wife likes to use “Color and Motion” to create the scene. Here we find the darkness and ferocity of the storm on the left transformed into light and calm on the right mediated by the central figure standing in the boat with the disciples. Can you see the boat and disciples created by the simple lines?"
Sumana R. submitted this painting, which may resonate with other health care providers, as they hold the weight of the world on their shoulders while they battle through the COVID-19 pandemic.