When we set out to purchase art for our Cleveland office, we did it with purpose and vision.
We decided to create both a physical and a virtual art wall, allowing us to share our collection, not only with clients who visit us downtown, but also with clients and others who visit us online.
We didn’t want to just buy a bunch of pretty stuff from well-known artists or galleries. We wanted our purchases to be specific and meaningful. Certainly, we wanted to pick pieces that we felt were visually appealing, as we spend a lot of time working in the office and expect to see our art daily. But, we also wanted our purchases to provide meaningful support to the artists and to reflect in some way our business.
We think we have put together a pretty cool little collection. It is divided into two main categories:
1) Unique artists; and
2) Unique views
Our Unique artist series supports the work of artists who are using art for employment and as therapy for coping with a debilitating injury, a traumatic event, homelessness, a chronic health issue, or as a means to raise funds/awareness for medical issues.
Our Unique views series takes an interesting and creative view of items we encounter in our medical/legal work.
In the office, most of our pieces are located in the lobby, on a single “art wall.” There are few other pieces, however, displayed throughout our office. We have also created a virtual art wall here on our website, which we invite you to explore. We will be updating our collection regularly, so please check back to enjoy new pieces of art, as we continue to add meaningful pieces to our collection.
Feature Artist: Randy Nicholson
Title: Signature of a Survivor
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Purchased from Artlifting
Unique artist series, painting #1
Randy Nicholson is an abstract-expressionist artist who started creating art due to a need to express himself. As a child, Randy was abused and now suffers from bipolar disorder. Randy enjoys the creative process because it provides him comfort and contentment as he heals. He uses the money earned through the sale of his paintings as income, as a way to share his point of view with others, and as a means to purchasing more art supplies.
Feature Artist: Kasey Tararuj
Title: In Disguise
Medium: Acrylic painting reproduced on premium Giclee Paper
Purchased from Artlifting
Unique artist series, painting #2
When Kasey was just 14, an unexpected and unpredictable AVM on her spinal cord took away the use of her legs. Art became a therapeutic outlet for Kasey and she grew as an artist. Kasey uses different mediums to help her deal with life as a parapelegic. She sells her art throughout the U.S. and has sold internationally too.
We are pleased to have Kasey’s work as part of our collection.
Feature Artist: Laurie Kammer
Title: Jungle Soul
Medium: Mixed Media reproduced on premium Giclee Paper
Purchased from Artlifting
Unique artist series, painting #3
Since 2011, Laurie Kammer has suffered from a T-10 spinal cord injury. Creating art has played a significant role in helping Laurie get back on her feet. While her graduate school plans have been put on hold, she has been able to utilize her undergraduate degree in Sculpture and Digital Art & Design.
Working with an art therapist, Laurie feels that
“Others suffering from this kind of trauma would benefit from the limitless potential of the healing arts.”
Feature Artist: Scott Benner
Title:Untitled 21
Medium: Ink Sketch on canvas
Purchased from Artlifting
Unique artist series, painting #4
In 2011, two years after his company closed, Scott was diagnosed with Horner’s syndrome. Horner’s syndrome is a rare condition that causes cluster headaches, exhaustion and confusion. Soon after this diagnosis, Scott was forced to sell his house and found himself on the street with next to nothing. But he still had his passion for art. “Art is a place where I can make what I want to see happen, ” says Scott. By selling his art, Scott is able to better make ends meet. He hopes to one day live near the ocean and be a full time artist.
Feature Artist: Frank Brescia
Title:Untitled 21
Medium: Ink Sketch on canvas
Purchased from Artlifting
Unique artist series, painting #5
After 9 months of homelessness, Frank Brescia was able to secure housing. Creating art has helped him deal with many life challenges such as homelessness. “Art helps me get out of myself and transports me to another place, ” he commented. Frank likes to create art so that he can “bring joy to people”.
Feature Artist: Dhyana H..J.F.
Title:NE Sunset
Medium: Acrylic painting reproduced on premium Giclee Paper
Purchased from Artlifting
Unique artist series, painting #6
Dhyana found her passion for art after she faced employment discrimination due to her disabilities. She found that she had a great eye and was able to capture many different kinds of subjects from landscapes to abstracts. Art became a distraction for her and it helped her “regain dignity and confidence previously lost through debilitating health conditions that robbed me of my professional life.”
Feature Artist: Elizabeth O’Angelo
Title: Opposing Wisdom
Medium: Acrylic painting reproduced on premium Giclee Paper
Purchased from Artlifting
Unique artist series, painting #7
Carbon monoxide poisoning caused Elizabeth to become severely ill. Prior to this accident, Elizabeth was an art teacher and professional artist. She now uses art as an escape from the intense suffering she has. Art now helps her feel better and heal as well as help to pay for her medical expenses.
Feature Artist: Participants at Youth Challenge
Title:Wheelchair Art
Medium: Stainless Steel
Purchased from Youth Challenge charity auction
Unique artist series, painting #8
Participants at Youth Challenge used their wheelchairs as paint brushes to create a colorful piece of art on canvas. This art was then transferred onto stainless steel by sculptor John Ranally.
Unique Views
Title: Brain Section, Cerebellum Section
Medium: Digitally printed on archival quality paper with vivid color
Unique views series #1
At first glance, it is hard to tell that this is a photographic print of a section of the human brain. The colors and the abstract feeling are really cool, and this is definitely a unique way to see the brain. Fun fact: after purchasing this print, we noticed that neurobiologist, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, played by Mayim Bialik on The Big Bang Theory, also has a copy of this print.
Unique Views
Title: Red blood Cells and a White Blood Cell
Medium: Digitally printed on archival quality paper with vivid color
Unique views series #2
This picture (by Thomas Deerink) of a lone white blood cell among dozens of red blood cells is eye catching. And not only because the white blood cell is actually blue, but because the shape and color of the white cell contrasts so starkly with the red blood cells. The red cells seem to be moving, while the white cell seems to be stuck. Blood cells as art; who knew it could be this pretty?!