When Houston artist Anne-Joelle Galley finished painting four panels featuring animals hiding in the jungle, she felt they needed to be housed in a special setting. She just wasn’t sure where that would be.
“I knew they were meant for children and wanted to donate them to a hospital or orphanage or something similar,” she said.
She found the ideal home for her paintings at the San José Clinic, located at 2615 Fannin. One of the oldest charity clinics in the United States, the regional healthcare facility is the only full-time clinic in the Greater Houston area dedicated exclusively to providing medical and dental services to the uninsured.
Galley asked if the clinic would accept her paintings as a donation. It turned out that the facility was moving to a new location with plenty of wall space.
“The entire process took months, because the pieces had to be approved first by the architects and decorators. Now the paintings are finally hanging on the walls in the new clinic,” Galley explained.
According to Sue Murchison, director of development at the clinic, Galley is the first artist to donate her work for the facility. “Anne-Joelle is one of the most patient people I’ve ever met,” Murchison said. “The paintings are beautiful and colorful, perfect for our pediatric unit. Even adults will stop and search for the different animals hiding in the jungle.”
Murchison explained that until last month’s move to the new space, the 88 year-old clinic had not moved since 1954. It was already in need of repairs and further damaged by Hurricane Ike. According to Murchison, CHRISTUS Foundation for Healthcare provided an amazing offer -- a freshly constructed facility built to suit San José Clinic’s specific needs. “We love our new location; it’s truly a great gift.”
Galley agrees and says she could not be happier with the placement of her art. “It is exciting and fulfilling. I love seeing my paintings in their new home.”
Galley has exhibited internationally and studied art in New York, Europe and Mexico, as well as the Glassell School of Art in Houston. She typically works in a variety of media to produce bold and vivid works, often applying the colors directly with her fingers. In addition to paintings and drawings, she works with mono-prints based on photo-etchings, using photographs and unusual techniques such as “Sumi-nagashi” (marbled paper) and Chine Collée (collage).
For more information about the artist, visit www.annejoelle.com
For more information about San José Clinic, visit www.sanjoseclinic.org
