When it opens in January 2025, the new, $75 million St. Tammany Health System Surgery Center on Bootlegger Road will be among the most technologically advanced surgery centers in the region – and, indeed, in the Gulf South.
But that’s not the only thing to admire about the new facility.
It is state of the art, no question – but, thanks to St. Tammany Hospital Foundation’s Healing Arts Initiative, it boasts its share of good old-fashioned visual art, too.
That includes the single largest piece in the foundation’s collection, a mural by Abita Springs artist Zac Maras measuring 18 feet by 20 feet that adds a can’t-miss-it splash of Louisiana flavor to the new facility’s atrium lobby.
Depicting a swamp scene, Maras’ mural is dominated by a detailed pelican in flight. Filling out the frame are intricately depicted Louisiana irises and a trio of vibrantly colored butterflies.
Such bayou-born nature scenes aren’t unusual for Maras, whose work can be found throughout the metro area, and particularly on the southshore. Getting a commission from a medical facility, however – and one in his own backyard – was a first for him.
“It means a lot to me to have my art displayed in a hospital, because usually you’re down on your luck or having a hard time if you’re coming in to seek treatment,” Maras said, taking a break from finishing off a blooming purple iris. “So if you can see something colorful and some art that resonates with you, that gives you a good feeling going into something that’s not so comfortable, that’s great.”
Working from an elevated boom lift, Maras started by projecting a rough version of his composition onto the lobby wall that would serve as his canvas and sketching it in.
From there, he used cans of professional-grade spray paint to bring the scene to life, utilizing a color palette chosen to harmonize with those colors already used in the building.
It was slow, deliberate work. Starting on a Sunday and finishing on the following Thursday, Maras estimated the entire project took in the neighborhood of 40 hours, start to finish.
Upon seeing the finished product, St. Tammany Hospital Foundation Executive Director Nicole Suhre said every minute Maras invested in his mural was well worth the time.
“Our Healing Arts Initiative is built on the idea that art of all sorts, big and small, play a positive role in patient outcomes,” Suhre said. “To be able to feature a beautiful mural like Zac’s here, reflecting our local culture and showcasing the work of a homegrown artist at the same time, makes me just so happy – and I know it will make our patients happy, too.”
Visit STHfoundation.org/HealingArts to learn more about St. Tammany Hospital Foundation’s award-winning Healing Arts Initiative.