Chaplain Noel Wetter and Claire Meyers, foundation and marketing director at St. John’s Circle of Care, are pictured with a couple of the many photos on canvas that decorate the lobby and reception area, main corridor and dining room at St. John Lutheran Home. More art pieces will be added in other areas of the facility in the near future, and the public is encouraged to take The Art Walk. For more information and pictures turn to feature in the Family & Friends section of this newspaper.

St. John Lutheran Home is where the art is!

The lobby, the corridor and the dining room in St. John Lutheran Home bursts with light even though there’s nary a window in sight. 

Instead, large art pieces bring the outside inside to residents, staff and visitors.

Art makes a home intimate, creates an environment of calm and enhances its beauty.

The collection of art new to St. John Lutheran Home by professional photographer Doug Ohman includes vanishing landmarks, barns, animals, landscapes, rivers and roads, highways and byways that create memories. 

The art project got its start when Deb Petersen, therapeutic recreation director, explored for entertainment for residents and invited Ohman to Springfield to give a presentation about his art. “He wanted to share his vision — his artwork with hospitals and nursing homes,” said Petersen.  “When we saw his artwork, we said, ‘Wow!’” she exclaimed during a recent interview.

“This has become a great way to allow my photography to positively impact our seniors in their golden years,” said Ohman, who is passionate about photography and is in his eighteenth year in the Pioneer Photography business.  “I am continuing to work with a number of senior living communities throughout Minnesota by providing art work for their facilities.”

That was the beginning of “A Walk of Art” at St. John Lutheran Home, a project of St. John’s Circle of Care Foundation.

“We received generous gifts from the Pieschel Family Foundation, St. John’s Circle of Care Auxiliary, the St. John’s Circle of Care Foundation, and some random gifts that financially supported the first group of art pieces,” said Claire Meyers, foundation and marketing director at St. John’s Circle of Care. 

“When we started selecting pictures, we looked at things our residents can relate to,” said Meyers. “We started with the main hallway because it gets the most traffic — not only residents, but, visitors, too. We decided to pick photos that are recognizable.  Photographs on canvas include pictures of an Ochs Brick Company silo, Sleepy Eye grain elevator and railroad, rural icons such as school house, country church, farm machinery, barns, animals and others.

In the lobby/reception area are pictures of Springfield including one of the St. John Hospital in the early 1900s, current pictures of St. John’s Circle of Care campus, and the Cass Avenue bridge.

 “A Walk of Art” currently has about 40 pictures that extends from the lobby / reception area, and the main corridor into the dining room. 

Meyers worked on the fundraising and planning.  Chaplain Noel Wetter assisted with selection of pictures and placement.  Ohman provided professional opinion as to how to group the various pieces, and hung them.

“It’s an ongoing project,” said Meyers. “Our goal is to add another 50 art pieces. We have raised enough money for art for all of Riverhaven and the hallway of 2 West. “Our hope is to do every nook and cranny.  We plan to do different themes. Upstairs we plan to concentrate on Northern Minnesota and its woods and waters.   In Riverhaven we plan to focus on animals and landscapes.”

Funds for the next phase of the project include money raised from Give to the Max Day — about $4,000, and other gifts.   Some families have purchased art in memory of loved ones.  “One piece costs approximately $170,” noted Meyers. “That’s affordable and will provide art that will brighten the walls and is consistent.   So many nursing homes have long hallways and building additions that have been put together through the years where really nothing matches. Our project will make it consistent. Our goal is to create a Walk of Art in each hallway at St. John Lutheran Home.”

The plan is to have Riverhaven and the upstairs corridor done by the end of March.  “Then we will work on raising money to do the north and south wings on both levels,” she said. 

As new art pieces are hung, new pages picturing and describing the art will be added to the booklet.

“We encourage people to come out and take a self-guided art tour,” said Meyers.  “Pick up a booklet in the lobby area.  It will tell you about the pictures, where they were taken, and a bit of history.”

“The art project has been “very well received,” said Petersen. “I love to walk the Art Walk and see the residents enjoy the art and visit. It’s a good project.”

It’s been really fun. It serves two purposes: It is beautiful to look at and they are conversation pieces,” said Meyers.

Springfield Advance-Press

13 S. Marshall Avenue PO Box 78 Springfield, MN 56087

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