'On the Frontline' Honors Health Care Heroes

Employees at every level of Mount Sinai Medical Center, from medical professionals to custodial staff, are both humbled and overjoyed to see themselves adorning the walls of their workplace.

Oolite Arts worked with five Miami-based artists to make the tribute possible.

“We wanted to find a way to express our sincere gratitude to the health care workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and felt that art would help serve this purpose,” said Dennis Scholl, president and CEO of Oolite Arts. “This exhibit will hopefully bring great pride to the medical center’s medical staff, employees, patients and visitors – many of whom may recognize workers as coming to their rescue during difficult times.”

Artists Stephen Arboite, Morel Doucet, Mark Fleuridor, William Osorio and Chire Regans (aka “VantaBlack”) started the project in the spring, all creating portraits in their preferred style and medium, based on and inspired by photographs and interviews conducted with Mount Sinai staff.

“This project has a special meaning to me because I come from a family of servants to the community,” said Regans. “My younger brother is an Iraq War veteran; my older brother is a fire rescue sergeant; and my mother was a retired nurse up until the onset of the pandemic. In the midst of the pandemic, she decided to return to nursing … We all serve our community in some way, and it's important to me to continue to do so through my work as an artist.”

The exhibition – 30 portraits strong – was unveiled to coincide with World Gratitude Day on Sept. 21 and will remain on display through Feb. 12, 2022, in the lobby of Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Skolnick Surgical Tower, although the space is not currently open to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“The most rewarding part of working here is taking care of the patients, making them feel better, and making an impact on their lives and their families,” said Rosemonde Pierre, a nurse manager who has worked at Mount Sinai for 10 years. “I am grateful to be part of this project because this time has been very rough for everyone.”