Above her are the portraits of two ER nursing colleagues.  I was so impressed by their willingness to participate in an impromptu photo session and they quickly came together in an embrace that reflects the emotion and physical overwhelm that has affected so many staff members.  Their closed eyes and downward gaze show their physical support of one and other and reinforce the importance of camaraderie and collegial support.

At the top right of the canvas is a clinical aide shown pouring drinks for the patients on her floor.  I was awestruck by her love for her patients and dedication to her job.  I chose to have the Ginger Ale flow over the sides of the cups to show the increased demand on all staff and to create movement and eyeflow down to the next portrait:  a critical care nurse.

This Critical Care RN is a liver transplant recipient who faced many challenges during the pandemic, especially due to her being immunocompromised.  She was so forthcoming about her job and care for her patients and is shown looking in through a window to a patient room, as she constantly did when COVID restrictions prevented nurses from entering patient rooms without proper protocol taking place.  Her profiled stare brings the viewer into the composition and communicates the intensity with which the patients are cared for at St. Mary’s.

Below her is a member of the Housekeeping staff and he is shown sanitizing a stretcher, despite the wave about to engulf him.  The surging waves in this composition represent the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and the emotional and physical roller coaster of working under the strain of a pandemic.

A doctor anchors the bottom left of the canvas and his relaxed demeanour and smiling eyes provide the viewer with comfort and encouragement.  He allowed me to photograph him during a spontaneous photo session in the Emergency Department.  

The counter the doctor is leaning against draws the viewer’s eye to the next portrait of the director of Corporate Services.  She is shown opening a bottle of hand sanitizer, a common practice at the beginning of the pandemic as her and her team would have to smell countless brands of sanitizer to ensure that their odour was not offensive for use in the hospital.  Her recollections of the craziness of trying to find PPE at the outset of the pandemic and how she had to come up with creative solutions, such as using her hairstylist’s pumps for their jugs of sanitizer were really eye opening.  She taught me how the Supply department, Housekeeping, and Food Services were an integral part of the overall inner workings and success of the hospital alongside all the other departments.  

The Supply Chain manager is to the right and another instrumental figure in helping provide the essential PPE and equipment needed for the staff to properly do their jobs at St. Mary’s.  Her portrait provides visual balance at the bottom of the composition and her straightforward stare pulls onlookers into the composition.  

A member of the Housekeeping staff appears in the bottom right of the artwork.  She is shown leaning against a mop and really reflects the physical and emotional fatigue that has affected so many healthcare professionals.  The bucket overflows to symbolize the sense of overwhelm experienced by so many.  Not only did her job demands increase during the pandemic but her and her team members also provided support to patients, especially in the form of handholding, as they were often the only point of contact, outside of nurses and doctors, during the daily room cleanings.  Staff members like her went above and beyond their job duties to provide exceptional care to all.

The vertical lines of the mop lead the viewer’s eye to another doctor, a hospitalist at St. Mary’s.  I appreciate his cheerful willingness to participate in a photo session and his positivity exudes from his eyes and is a reminder of the hope and resilience that exists at St. Mary’s.

Above this doctor is a nurse whose red shirt almost makes her more of the main focal point of the canvas.  I was particularly impressed by her eagerness to participate in this artwork and her creative flare during our photo session.  She happily answered questions about her job and I appreciated seeing her own creative artwork at her workspace.  She is shown listening to a patient’s heart and her bright, joyful eyes pull the viewer in immediately to the composition.

At the top right of the canvas is a dietary aide from Food Services, shown cleaning a fridge.  He emerges as a beacon of hope from the clouds and his efforts have not gone unnoticed.  Without the tireless work ethic of him and his team, the hospital would not run as efficiently and seamlessly as it did during the pandemic.

So amidst the turbulent waters that represent COVID-19, emerges a series of staff members from many job positions and departments, each instrumental in providing exceptional care and services to the staff and patients at St. Mary’s.  

A sun rises above the infinity water symbol and is a reminder of the Beatles’ ‘Here Comes the Sun’ that was played each time a COVID patient was released from hospital.  The sunrise breaks through the infinity symbol and underscores the idea that things can always appear darkest before the dawn but hope is within all of our reach and knows no bounds. 

Thank you to all of the staff at St. Mary’s hospital and to those that participated in this art installation and shared their stories of courage, commitment, and vulnerability.  I celebrate and honour your sacrifices and dedication to each other, your patients, and your community.