Second Annual Rome Community HeART Project winners are Pepperell students Ashleigh Bradford and Olivia Escutia
Media release: Throughout February, Redmond Regional Medical Center teamed up with Rome Area Council for the Hearts for the Second Annual Rome Community HeART Project. Fifteen large concrete hearts were decorated by local artists and displayed throughout Downtown Rome and at Redmond. These hearts provided a way for artists to help spread heart health awareness during the nationally recognized month.
In addition to bringing awareness and providing works of public art, RACA and Redmond encouraged community members to vote for their favorite hearts on Facebook. Fans could vote once a day for the entire month of February. RACA and Redmond are pleased to announce that Pepperell students Ashleigh Bradford and Olivia Escutia’s heart, displayed at Schroeder’s New Deli on Broad Street, has won this year’s Voter’s Choice Award. The heart resembled Vincent Van Gogh’s original artwork, Starry Starry Night, while adding recognizable Rome landmarks, such as the Clocktower.
“The hardest part about the HeART for me was my height,” Escutia said. “I had to stand on a step stool and occasionally an art table to reach it! I was nervous in the beginning about getting the colors and proportion right in such a short amount of time, and paying homage to Van Gogh while still putting our own spin on it. In the end I think we were surprised at how well it turned out, and I’m really proud of the result.”
Bradford also experienced some challenges in her design. “Even though it was a challenge at first for me to do a mirror image on the back, as we wanted the scene to look life-like and realistic, it paid off in the end. We had a lot of support and encouragement from our families and friends, and that made it a lot more meaningful. It was an honor to have our art installed on Rome’s Historic Broad Street.”
Escutia and Bradford learned about the project from their art teacher, Cristie Smith. “Art in a public space gives opportunity for community engagement” said Smith. “Students and teachers at Pepperell Middle School and Pepperell High School were enthusiastic to learn about the HeART. Many experienced it in person and multiple discussions about it were initiated in class. The HeART resulted in people looking at, and talking about, art.”
RACA President Emily Hjort, was pleased with this year’s project and community engagement. “The Second Annual HeART Project was a huge success. Not only did it brighten our downtown area, but it encouraged heart health and allowed our local artists to show their talents publicly. RACA and Redmond have established a committed effort to promote our organizations’ missions together. We feel honored to be a part of such a positive community effort.”
The Rome Community HeART Project will be accepting applications for 2016’s heart artists later this year.
