To commemorate the opening of the new Stanford Hospital, patients, staff, families and volunteers were invited to share what the new hospital means to them in an interactive project called VOICES of the Community. Each participant created a drawing or personal message that was scanned and then placed -- via computer program -- to make up the "tiles" of a digital mosaic that depicts the new Stanford Hospital.
"For Stanford Health Care and Stanford Hospital the VOICES of the Community really became an incredible engagement tool," said David Entwistle, president and CEO of Stanford Health Care.
Traveling to schools, community events, senior centers, and even by taking art submissions online, the VOICES project organizers said they were able to interact with the community in a creative and meaningful way.
"We were really able to hear the things that they were saying in the messages they wrote, in their submissions and their artwork," said Eileen DiFranco, director of communications, digital and content strategy for Medical Center Development. It was evident from their creative contributions how much they cared, she explained.
"Being part of the mosaic makes me feel important and I want everyone who comes in the hospital to know that I care -- and we care -- about the community," said Jansen Estacio, a Stanford Health Care employee.
In about 18 months, more than 4,000 people, including Stanford Medicine staff, patients, community members and children, took part in the VOICES project.
The VOICES of the Community digital mosaic was unveiled at the new Stanford Hospital Community Day events on September 14 and 15 of this year. Using large, portable digital touchscreens, attendees were able to search the digital mosaic, zoom in to find their "tile" and view the other works of art in the image. The digital mural is now online and is accessible to everyone. Organizers hope to permanently display the mural in print or in digital form at the new Stanford Hospital as well.
"It's just really a representation of how we all come together as one community," one artist said. "Although we may have different colors, different shapes, different images, different drawings, different life experiences -- when we come together we can become something really beautiful."
Photos and video courtesy of Project SNAP
