Murals by local artists show the healing power of art at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital

Thanks to the work of local artists, two treatment rooms in the emergency department at St. Martha's Regional Hospital in Antigonish are now brighter and more welcoming for patients.

Artists Andy Pumphrey and Andrew Murray created murals for the new pediatric room and an assessment room in the department. The murals are the result of a collaboration between Nova Scotia Health, Arts Health Antigonish (AHA!), ASAP Artist-Run Centre and Antigonish Culture Alive (ACA)

Andy's mural, "The Nature of Art," is located in the department's pediatric room. It shows pollinators, like bees, and friends enjoying various arts on a sunny day. The blades of grass showcase words inspired by thinking of health, community and the arts that were submitted by community members. Because the mural commemorates the 10-year anniversary of AHA!, a hint of its logo can be found in the petals and leaf of the flower to celebrate what the arts have brought to the community. 

"Arts Health Antigonish is delighted to be recognized for our 10 years of programming through this mural at St. Martha's Regional Hospital," said Liz Brennan, chair, Arts Health Antigonish (AHA!). "Andy's fun, whimsical creation well-captures the playfulness of the arts health movement as it depicts pollinators creating community through the arts. Her inclusion of community input in the grass offers insights that are worth exploring more closely."

Andrew's nature-based mural is located in the emergency department's assessment room. Inspired by the view from Caribou River, N.S., the mural features a beautiful sunset over the water, framed by trees, grass and rugged coastline. The piece was created to reflect calmness and stability in a surrounding that can feel stressful and sometimes out of a person's control. 

"Artwork has had a special place at St. Martha's for many years and we continue to learn more about the impact having thoughtful artwork as part of our hospital has on people," said Sarah O'Brien, site lead, St. Martha's Regional Hospital. 

"We've been able to see first-hand the impact of creating an inviting, soothing environment for staff, visitors and especially patients. For patients, artwork can help lower stress and anxiety levels, help them cope with pain or discomfort and help them feel more comfortable which in turn can lead to quicker recovery times and give them a sense of control in their health journey. The fact that we can work with local artists, groups and partners to create these spaces just builds on the sense of connection St. Martha's has with the community. We are incredibly thankful to Arts Health Antigonish (AHA!), ASAP Artist-Run Centre, Antigonish Culture Alive (ACA) and other supporting partners for their dedication to our hospital, our people and our community."

The idea of adding murals to the two rooms came from several public art initiatives. AHA! participated as a jury member in 2023's Public Art Program, a partnership between ACA and the Town of Antigonish that annually selects a mural to be installed and displayed in a public space in the town. As one of the finalists for the program commemorating AHA! work in the community, Andy's mural was made possible by the ASAP Artist-Run Centre artist-in-residence program. This program has been funded by the Town and County municipalities of Antigonish for seven years, supporting artists' practice in the region. 

Andy was then partnered with AHA! and worked in consultation with AHA!'s members and the larger community to build a piece that reflected how people understood the positive impact of arts on holistic health. Andrew generously facilitated the acceptance and installation of Andy's piece in St. Martha's and received his own commission from the St. Martha's Regional Hospital Auxiliary Fund. Both pieces reflect the dedication and continuing support of the arts in Antigonish town and county, as well as the community's unique and embodied understanding of art for health and well-being.

"The arts have been shown to have immense value in healthcare settings, helping to alleviate patient stress and anxiety and to improve patient satisfaction," said Brennan. "The arts also contribute to staff well-being by helping to create more compassionate, healing spaces. Arts Health Antigonish is delighted that St. Martha's Regional Hospital recognizes the healing power of the arts and is welcoming the arts into this healthcare setting." 

Photo 1: Artist Andy Pumphrey (centre) is joined by Liz Brennan, chair, Arts Health Antigonish and Sarah O'Brien, site lead, St. Martha's Regional Hospital in front of her mural "The Nature of Art".

Photo 2: Artist Andrew Murray is joined by Liz Brennan, chair, Arts Health Antigonish and Laurie Marchand, manager, St. Martha's Regional Hospital emergency department in front of his mural. 

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About the artists:

Andy Pumphrey: Passionate about creativity and all things art, Andy is a visual artist, as well as an arts advocate. Her work, often incorporating 3D elements like papier mache and epoxy clay, blurs the lines between two and three-dimensional art. While Andy's art often evokes smiles, it also carries deeper meaning. She enjoys the challenge of creating art that serves a purpose, frequently embedding "Easter Eggs" of personal significance for the recipient. Andy's artistic training is a testament to her dedication to life-long learning. Through workshops, courses, books, videos and consistent practice, she has sharpened her skills. Her commitment to the arts extends beyond her personal practice. She frequently volunteers her time to help others with their creative pursuits. 

Andrew Murray: Andrew was raised in Antigonish and at an early age, displayed talents for all things creative, especially drawing and painting. At age 10, he designed his first of many sets and costumes for Theatre Antigonish and was discovered at age 14 by John Neville, who invited him to be artist-in-residence at Neptune Theatre after a year of studying Fine Arts at Mount Allison University. After four seasons with the Stratford Festival, Andrew worked in the 1980s and 1990s across Canada in theatres, eventually moving into film and television in Toronto. In 2001, Andrew returned to his hometown and kept busy designing interiors and exteriors for businesses on Main Street, painting murals, window displays, opening an art school and joining committees of Town Council. In 2016, Andrew was elected as a councillor for the Town of Antigonish and is currently starting his third term, where he is chair of the Beautification Committee.