Community mural speaks to
everyone at North Central
BY KYLE VUILLE
Patients and faculty will
see new splashes of color at
North Central Bronx Hospital
after Monday’s unveiling of
a community mural entitled,
‘The Cycle of Caring’ developed
by artist Carla Torres.
“I love doing this kind of
work because I see the art in
action, the power of art in action,
where the artwork transcends
the image,” Torres said
in front of the multifaceted
mural. “It’s not so much about
the image, its what happened
around it.”
Torres, a visual studio artist,
originally from Ecuador
was one of eight female artists
chosen to participate in
the NYC Health and Hospital
Community Mural Projects.
The mural on the fi rst fl oor
of the NCBH portrays all the
triumphs and trials that take
place there everyday, according
to Torres.
From brainstorming sessions
with faculty, staff, patients,
Torres found the
common theme of resilience between
staff members, working
together for the greater good.
“When we opened up the
conversation in the brainstorming,
we asked what NCB
means to you,” Torres said.
“They were emphasizing for
them, working at NCB is like
family, people working here
for many years, and the community.”
According to Torres, she
estimated at least 40 different
faculty members and patients
worked on the project over the
span of four hours.
Torres found the humor in
participants worrying about
not staying in the lines or
making mistakes.
“We fi x as we fi x. I was
the ‘plastic surgeon’ after the
painting party,” Torres said.
The $1.5 million funding
for various mural projects
came from a grant put out by
the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination
Fund through the Mayor’s
Fund to Advance New
York City.
Rick Luftglass, executive
director, at the Laurie M Tisch
Illumination Fund was present
at the unveiling and spoke
briefl y with the Bronx Times.
“We look at access and opportunity
in the community
in relation to the arts and
meet the needs of the community,
especially in underserving
areas,” Luftglass said.
The program aims to integrate
the arts (literary, visual,
and performing) into the hospitals
for the sake of the emotional
well-being and wellness
of everyone who walks
through their doors.
A prime example of the
therapeutic benefi ts of creating
art was exemplifi ed at the
mural’s unveiling after a patient
spoke about his involvement.
“I was a patient here and I
learned about the mural happening
upstairs and I was excited,
it was a day I didn’t have
much to do and I came upstairs
and I was greeted really
warmly by the staff and I was
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, NOVEMBER 2 42 9-DECEMBER 5, 2019 BTR
Artist Carla Torres explains the meaning behind just a small section of
the community mural she designed at North Central Bronx Hospital. Torres
brainstormed with staff, faculty and patients on the project to ensure
the mural encapsulated everything NCBH represents.
Photo by Kyle Vuille/Schneps Media
GEORGE’S RESTAURANT
Corner of Westchester Avenue & Crosby Avenue
YOUR NEXT DELIVERY OF
$20 OR MORE
$3OFF
Must Mention Coupon Offer While Ordering To Receive Discount And Present Upon
Food Receipt. Not To Be Combined With Any Other Offer. Exp. 12/31/2019
SERVING THE FINEST FOOD FOR OVER 48 YEARS
NOW SERVING WHOLE WHEAT PASTA
WE DELIVER TO
PELHAM BAY
THROGS NECK
COUNTRY CLUB
$10 Minimum
For Delivery
Delivery Hours
11am-9pm
SAUTE´ AND
PASTA DISHES
COME AND ENJOY OUR
NEW SAUTE MENU!
SERVED
MONDAY - SATURDAY
FROM 4PM-9PM
EARLY BIRD
DINNER
SPECIALS
$10.95
SUNDAY - THURSDAY
3pm - 6pm
LET US CATER YOUR NEXT EVENT - CURBSIDE PICK-UP!
SNACK FOODS INDUSTRY
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
THE RIGHT CANDIDATE SHOULD HAVE EXPERTISE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
assigned a color,” 26-year-old
Dio Then said. “I went ahead
and started painting and I
felt all my stress literally melt
away and be put on a piece of
paper.”
Torres said she was pleased
with every step of the project
and couldn’t be happier with
the fi nal product.
“I was able to convey all
their ideas,” Torres said.