Cynthia Cotmen, left, and Vicky Krause are among the AHS staff whose creative and colourful artworks are on display this spring at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.

Cynthia Cotmen, left, and Vicky Krause are among the AHS staff whose creative and colourful artworks are on display this spring at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. Photo by Jonathan Koch.

Central Zone art program highlights regional talent

Story & photo by Jonathan Koch

RED DEER — A rotating art program in Central Zone is highlighting talented artists within the Alberta Health Services (AHS) community.

Creative Connections is managed by the AHS Volunteer Resources department at several sites throughout the Central Zone. Through this program, community artists and AHS staff are invited to display their artwork in AHS facilities, which contributes to patient well-being and benefits the healing process. This spring, a handful of Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre (RDRHC) staff displayed their artwork in the facility, including Vicky Krause and Cynthia Cotmen.

Krause, a MR technologist, says her interest in painting melds two of her passions.

“I have a passion for photography as well, so my pieces are based mostly on my own photos,” adds Krause, who had several paintings on display that reflect her love of nature. “I love going to the mountains and hiking, and that's where I get all my pictures.”

Cotmen, a business support coordinator for Facilities Maintenance and Engineering, has dabbled in acrylic painting and sewing in the past. Her inspiration for several textile art pieces on display comes from a birthday trip to France with her mom.

“We took this good textile course where we just tried new techniques for five days straight, which was heaven, and I came home with this renewed vigor to do art,” says Cotmen. “Now I can't walk through Value Village anymore, I see T-shirts and I'm like, ‘Ooh, that fabric colour is pretty, I want to make something out of that’.”

Having received several compliments about her works, along with a few new commissions, Krause says she’s pleased to see people enjoying artwork on display.

“I see people at those walls for quite a long time. I think it's nice for the patients and the visitors to be able to enjoy that,” she adds. Although she jokes that some of her coworkers are “baffled” when they first see her textiles, Cotmen says the display has enabled her to make some creative connections of her own.

“What's really nice is how a few people approached me to say — ‘Hey, I'm an artist too. I didn't know you do art, I do art’ — which has just been a nice way to bond with people.”

Creative Connections launched in 2006 in Red Deer and has since expanded to more sites within the Central Zone.

Brenda Farwell, Volunteer Resources coordinator at RDRHC, says she’s pleased to be able to feature staff artwork in their Creative Connections display.

“It's a great way for team members to share their creativity and talent with coworkers across the hospital while helping to create a warm and comforting environment for patients and visitors alike."