One of the radiation treatment rooms at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre has just been completely renovated, and now includes a unique piece of artwork called a Sky Ceiling.
“I saw it and immediately knew it was a perfect fit with our mandate,” says Debbie Baylin, a former Global Woman of Vision and the founder of Art a la Carte.
Baylin is passionate about bringing art to patients because her group believes it can be therapeutic.
“We feel it’s essential to the healing process. People are frightened, disoriented, they are filled with such heart ache when they enter a medical facility, if you can put them in an environment that’s home-like, magical things happen,” adds Baylin.
Cancer patient Joan Furtney has received treatment in the new room. She says it makes a huge difference.
“I’m claustrophobic and the thought of me being pinned down to the table, was frightening. It opens up the space and the intimidation I felt earlier in the sessions isn’t there anymore,” says Furtney, who’s being treated for a brain tumour.
The ceiling is a photographic illusion of a blue sky, with a few clouds and several trees and blossoms. It’s lit from behind with LED lights.
It cost 5-thousand dollars, and was funded by the Royal Bank.
Officials with the Alberta Cancer Board say any kind of artwork that calms a patient, is medically helpful.
“If patients are more relaxed on the bed, that’s helps us, because they’re not moving around. We’re delivering very precise treatment and if we can help them relax in anyway, that’s a beneficial thing,” says Michael Taylor, manager of radiation at the Tom Baker.
The partnership between Art a la Carte and the Royal Bank will see 9 new sky ceilings installed at the Tom Baker over the next few years.
For more information, you can visit www.artalacarte.org
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