PORTFOLIO
Visual art and custom murals for professional and residential spaces
REPRESENTATIVE MURALS
PORTFOLIO
MURAL 1
Urgent Care Room A. Mount Sinai Medical Center. New York. Commissioned by Julia Turkel (Safe Program Coordinator) and Dr. Andy Jagoda (Professor and Vice-Chair, Department of Emergency Services) on behalf of SAVI, the Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program.
Main mural detail.
Coming to an emergency department is stressful -- even more so if you are an assault victim. It is critical to provide a safe and comforting environment for all of our patients, especially for those who have been sexually or physically abused. Our new SAVI room in the emergency department was carefully designed to provide a peaceful and supportive space and has far surpassed all expectations. It is a step forward for us in providing comprehensive care and stands as a model for other comparable programs in the city. Dr. Andy Jagoda, Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Emergency Medicine
The transformation that has taken place . . . is truly exciting. For the survivors of sexual violence who are treated at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, it is our sincere hope that this mural contributes a solid first step on their journey toward healing and recovery. Iona Siegel, SAVI Executive Director
The examinations and procedures that are performed in this particular exam room happen after serious personal traumas. So the walls, and even the ceiling, were painted to show a quiet and soothing outdoors scene. We hope it alleviates some of the sting of our patients' ordeal, and helps them begin to heal. Julia Turkel, SAVI-SAFE Program Coordinator
The room looks fantastic, I particularly like the images above the examination table, how thoughtful. Congratulations to Ms. Wesley Usher on a job well done. Marianne Lindsay, New York Department of Criminal Justice Services, VAWA Unit
Ceiling tile detail.
Your wall and ceiling murals . . . create an immediate tranquil effect which is so helpful to survivors of horrendous events. Helps the examiners too! I completed a case 2 days ago and really sensed what a difference this makes. Thanks so much for your design and skill. Dr. Barbara Richardson, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine/Assistant Professor, Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center
The room looks beautiful!! Well done and thank you very much! Deborah Travis, head of Nursing Education, Mount Sinai Medical Center
THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
Julia Turkel and Wesley Usher open the Urgent Care Room.
On September 27, 2007, staff from Mount Sinai Medical Center and SAVI, and representatives from New York City government and the expressive arts industry attended the official reopening of the Urgent Care Room at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Barbara Richardson, Dr. Andy Jagoda, Iona Siegal, Julia Turkel and Wesley Usher all spoke briefly on the significance of the event for Mount Sinai Medical Center and its vision for patient-centered healthcare.
(left to right) Iona Siegel, Dr. Andy Jagoda (Professor/Vice Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine), Dr. Barbara Richardson (Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine/Assistant Professor, Mount Sinai Medical Center), Wesley Usher, Julia Turkel
NEWS RELEASE
Julia Turkel, author of this news release, is the SAFE Program Coordinator at Mount Sinai Medical Center. The SAFE Program operates within the SAVI (Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention) Program, which has been serving survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence for over 23 years.
(left to right) Wesley Usher, Julia Turkel (SAFE program coordinator), Iona Siegel (SAVI executive director)
SANCTUARY CREATED IN NYC HOSPITAL FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
One expects certain things upon walking into an Emergency Department; beige walls, fluorescent lighting, various life saving equipment placed throughout. What survivors of sexual assault find at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, however, is quite different. Patients are still walking into a state-of-the-art medical facility, but one that has been completely transformed thanks to the talents of Wesley Usher.
Ms. Usher, prompted by her dedication to work with survivors of sexual assault, recently coupled her compassion with her talents as an artist to complete a renovation of the exam room used in The Mount Sinai Hospital’s Emergency Department used specifically for treating survivors of sexual assault. This space has now been transformed into a sanctuary filled with bamboo, moonlight and tree frogs far removed from the sterile atmosphere of a typical exam room. Research indicates that the physical environment in which medical attention is given can have a significant effect on that person’s overall hospital experience, as well as their recovery. In particular, scenes depicting nature and natural settings are considered to be most beneficial. In the case of a survivor of sexual assault, the hospital experience often has implications for how they choose to proceed with the judicial process, which has significant implications in terms of prosecuting sexual offenders in our city.
For over 23 years, The Mount Sinai SAVI Program has offered free and confidential counseling services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Last year alone, SAVI was able to provide services to 553 survivors in eleven emergency departments in Manhattan and Queens. SAVI continually strives to provide survivors of sexual assault with the highest quality of care and this project, like many others, adds exponentially to this cause.
