Spotlight on Artist Jessica Winters' "Tree of Hope" Mural
A pair of delicate butterflies dance above an outstretched arm holding an assortment of wildflowers in hues of purple, pink and yellow, offering them up to an invisible receiver. Below, the simple phrase "I Picked You Some Flowers" is painted upon the light blue wall.
There's nothing like a thoughtful arrangement of flowers to help pick you up when you're going through a difficult time. Thanks to this beautiful mural from Inuk visual artist Jessica Winters of Makkovik, Nunatsiavut (Labrador), those visiting the new Mental Health Unit at the Labrador Health Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay will receive a warm and comforting welcome.
The project is a result of the efforts between Business & Arts NL and the Department of Health and Community Services to install art in mental health units across the province. Initially conceived as a "Tree of Hope" mural representing strength and healing, Winters felt compelled to tweak the concept after spending some time in the space and drew up some new ideas, eventually coming up with "I Picked You Some Flowers."
"The idea came from simple acts of kindness, things that can brighten someone's day, like picking someone flowers...It encourages viewers, at least I hope it does, to look for these opportunities to connect with others and share a caring moment," Winters says.
"With mental health and especially in the darker days, we spend so much time focused on ourselves, in our own heads. Sometimes the key to getting out of that is asking yourself, 'How can I help somebody else?' Simple things, like helping with a task, picking flowers, sharing a kind remark, is a good start."
Hands are a recurring theme in Winters' work (see "Capelin" and "Auntie Teaching Me to Make Earrings"). And while she used her own hands as a quick reference for this particular piece, "the hands are usually my mom's or aunt's, because they are so worn and beautiful," Winters says. The flowers, she adds, are "local flowers that I hope everyone will recognize."
It took Winters about five days to complete the piece (her first solo mural), and she and the facility's team are happy with the final result.
"I received a lot of feedback from the construction team that was onsite while I was painting," she adds. "They would often poke in to see my progress and give me praise, which was really nice."
Sandy Penney, Vice President/Chief Operations Officer with NL Health Services - Labrador Grenfell Zone, says the artwork is a welcome addition to the therapy room of the new Mental Health Unit.
“The artwork for this space was made possible through funding in collaboration with the provincial government. It is truly a beautiful space intended for reflection, sharing and healing, and the artist captured the atmosphere we were hoping to create for our patients," she says.
Jessica Winters
For Winters, this piece also helps carry the legacy of art and creativity that runs through her family. Her grandmother, renowned artist, educator and writer Nellie Winters, has made a living through art and craft and in 2021, received an honorary doctorate from Memorial University for her contributions to Inuit art and cultural life.
"Her natural ability and artistic interest has totally shaped who I am. Maybe it is inherently within me as well because I definitely gravitated heavily towards art and craft, but I know the way I was raised, seeing and doing art all the time from a very young age, has helped me become an artist. It felt innate," Winters says.
"Whether natured or nurtured, I credit her and my other family members, like my mom, for my artistic interest and abilities."
To see more of Jessica Winters' work, visit her website: www.jessicawintersart.com
Or follow her on Instagram: @jessicawintersart