fp Turks and Caicos

Students, hospital staff and members of the community painted a picture of hope for the new hospitals in Grand Turk and Providenciales.

Sharing their love through art, 48 warm-hearted people spent their Tuesday morning in Grand Turk — and many more in Providenciales on Thursday — painting canvases that will be used to decorate the sterile white walls of the new hospitals, with hope of uplifting the spirits of those who visit them.

The project, part of the Foundation for Hospital Art, was brought to the Turks and Caicos Islands by part-time residents Dick and Sue Hammill, whose Hammill Family Foundation supported the project.

“We have been coming to the country for over 10 years, and we wanted to do something for the islands, something to give back,” Dick Hammill explained. The Hammills work closely with the Foundation for Hospital Art in the U.S. and brought the idea of the project to InterHealth Canada Directors, who welcomed the idea for the local hospitals.

“When I heard about the hospitals, I called (hospital chief executive) Roger Cheesman and told him about the foundation, and he was thrilled with the idea,” Dick Hammill said.

Since 1984, The foundation has been dedicated to softening the hospital environment with colorful paintings, wall murals and ceiling tiles. Participants paint pre-drawn, color-coded designs at “PaintFests,” events organized to bring individuals together to paint, held in a variety of settings around the world.

“Our mission is to enable people to simply love and comfort people in hospitals,” explained founder John Feight, nicknamed “the Doctor of Art.” “With the help of volunteers, our hospitals will become our most beautiful places for healing.”

Since its inception, Feight and his foundation have been responsible for creating more than 2,200 paintings in 193 countries around the world. Art painted by volunteers through the project can be seen in hospitals from Australia to Afghanistan, Barbados to Beijing and now the TCI.

Students from the H.J. Robinson High School, Ona Glinton Primary School, Eliza Primary School in Grand Turk and the Majorie Basden High School in South Caicos worked alongside hospital staff and volunteers to paint colorful pieces of artwork that will decorate the lobby of the Grand Turk hospital scheduled to open in just a few weeks on April 10.

Feight explained that when people come into the hospital sick, the paintings will help take their minds of their pain, if only for a moment. “You will love thousands of people over time with what you are doing here today,” he said.

Feight painted a mural across the longest open space on the lobby wall. The mural was inspired by the TCI and showcases the Grand Turk Lighthouse, as well as flamingos and a seagull. Feight says the seagull represents not putting limits on your dreams.