Lake Villa artist forges bond with Condell
Eric Lee believes in the power of art.
After creating his first painting nine years ago, the Lake Villa man is now using that power to transform the vibes of hospitals - not only for the patients, but for employees.
The 53-year-old artist is gaining a steady following behind his abstract glass work, which is featured in museums and galleries across the globe. Although his work has also been purchased by hospitals before, he forged a new bond with Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville after his wife underwent a lifesaving operation there in 2007.
Lee donated his first piece to the hospital in honor of the doctor who performed that surgery. Since then, he has made several donations and is about to begin work on a few major projects for the hospital's new expansion tower.
"If you save someone's life, it's one of those things you feel strongly about," Lee said. "It's just one of those things where you show your appreciation, and I foresee this going on for a number of years to come."
Lee hopes to provide the hospital staff with a more energetic, but soothing work environment.
"Hospitals tend to have old dusty paintings of people from the turn of the century in horse and buggies and maybe some sort of generic flowers," he said. "If you don't view your service or business as a generic one, then you don't need generic art on the walls."
Rob Barto, Condell's vice-president of development, said Lee's work creates calmer moods throughout the hospital. Some of it is featured in what many consider dire of places, including the emergency department and the radiology registration area.
He recently created a piece for the emergency staff titled "Serenity". The glass hangs in the new relaxation room where staff members can decompress when stressed.
"The whole idea is when you look at the piece of art, it will help you calm down," Barto said.
After spending 20 years as a consultant to architects on contract documents, Lee left the business world and has not looked back.
His 7,000-square-foot studio in Park City is filled with at least 50 sheets of glass as orders come in from as far as Moscow, while the music of Led Zeppelin resonates through the warehouse. To escape the cold winters of Chicago, he leases studios in Florida and Texas while presenting his work at art shows.
He chose to work on glass because he knew he needed to be fearless and take risks.
"I think the strongest art is art that will often have a wide audience because it's not so cerebral that only the informed can get it," Lee said. "I like that fact that people in their 90s have bought my work and that children respond to my work."
Barto said he is going to take Lee on a tour of Condell's new wing in the next few weeks so he can see the surfaces for which he will create the art.
"The reason I work with Condell and am doing work for this new tower is that the hospital has changed in their approach to art and the healing environment," Lee said.
The $92 million expansion is set to open in the late spring 2011 and will add a heart and vascular center and 72 beds in private rooms.
"A person's work environment is really important, it affects your whole mood and how you care about your work," Barto said. "A nice piece of art just changes your whole perspective on the environment."