‘Her Legacy Lights the Way’ community
mural unveiled in Brooklyn
A part of the community mural at NYC Health + Hospitals / McKinney. Photo by Nelson A. King
From left, actress and great granddaughter of Dr. Susan Smith McKinney, Ellen Holly, renowned for her star role in
“One Life to Live,” Laurie Tisch, founder and president, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund and lead artist Peach Tao
addresses ceremony. Photo by Nelson A. King
Caribbean Life, November 15-21, 2019 3
By Nelson A. King
NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine
program on Tuesday unveiled a
community mural, dubbed “Her Legacy
Lights the Way,” at NYC Health + Hospitals/
McKinney on Albany Avenue in
Brooklyn.
Inspired by the community, the mural
remembers Dr. Susan McKinney, the first
African-American woman to earn a medical
degree in New York State, and celebrates
the pride and joy of many cultures
represented at the health facility and in
the Central Brooklyn neighborhood in
the epicenter of the Caribbean community.
Elements from NYC Health + Hospitals
/ McKinney are depicted in the art, from
tomato plants, which the residents harvest,
to popular activities they participate
in and stories from the neighborhood.
Led by Beijing, China-born artist Peach
Tao, NYC Health + Hospitals / McKinney
said the concept of the mural was
developed by engaging patients, staff and
local community residents through focus
groups, and later painted in collaboration
with the community during a designated
paint party.
“It’s been an exhilarating experience to
dive into and explore stories the residents
shared with me and the rich diversity
of the community around them, which
ultimately inspired the concept for the
mural,” Tao said. “My goal throughout
this process was to capture their spirits as
best I could and produce a piece of art that
will contribute to their continued healing
and well-being.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity,”
she told the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“I’m just like a chef, and I hope everyone
enjoys the meal.”
David Weinstein, chief executive officer,
NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney, said:
“’Her Legacy Lights the Way’ for McKinnians,
because we apply H+H ICARE values
for everything we do by owning our
integrity and compassion as long term
care providers, holding ourselves accountable
to those who look to us for comfort,
respecting those we give care to and those
we work with daily.
“All these assets culminate in the excellence
of our continuum of care and services,”
he added. “Today, we celebrate with
pride the many cultures woven through
McKinney’s tapestry through the medium
of art, Art in Medicine.”
Seven other NYC Health + Hospitals’
facilities participated in the Community
Mural Project and will be unveiling their
murals through year’s end.
NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney
said the project is a flagship component of
NYC Health + Hospitals’ arts-based initiatives,
made possible through the Laurie
M. Tisch Illumination Fund and the Mayor’s
Fund to Advance New York City.
“Art has the power to bring communities
together, as demonstrated by the
vibrant new mural local artists created in
collaboration with NYC Health + Hospitals’
staff and patients,” said New York City
First Lady Chirlane McCray.
“This collaborative art piece celebrates
the multiethnic history of the neighborhood
while paying tribute to a pioneer
who made our city a better place,” she
added. “We look forward to continuing
this work as we create more thoughtful,
healing spaces across the city.”
Eric Wei, vice president and chief quality
officer of NYC Health + Hospitals, and
chair of the Art Advisory Council, said the
collaborative mural-making process has
been “a positive experience for our NYC
Health + Hospitals’ patients, residents,
staff and surrounding neighborhood.
“Each mural tells a story of the individuals
and their diverse cultures represented
by its community, as well as the
history behind the NYC Health + Hospital
facility, such as the depiction of Dr. Susan
McKinney and her legacy as a trailblazer,”
he added.
Laurie Tisch, founder and president of
the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund,
said it was “a privilege to work with the
artists, patients, community leaders and
health.”
“Decades of research have shown that
the arts are a powerful tool in healing,”
she told the ceremony. “We, at the Illumination
Fund, are proud to support
the Arts in Medicine program at NYC
Health + Hospitals.” said care professionals
involved in the creation of these amazing
murals, now available for everyone to
enjoy.”
Actress Ellen Holly, Dr. Susan Smith
McKinney’s great granddaughter, who is
renowned as “Carla” in the soap opera,
“One Life to Live,” said her family has
been “astonished” by the outpouring of
love and support from Brooklynites, and
the extraordinary attention paid to her
family history.
“This whole idea was conceived in such
an imaginative way,” she added, referring
to the mural.
NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney said
the collaborative mural-making process is
“a tool to encourage creativity, build trust
and engagement between the healthcare
facility and their communities, reduce
stigma and foster pride in the public
health system’s facilities through community
building activities, while promoting
greater neighborhood wellness.”