Celebrating a Legacy of Giving
Last month, I was honored to unveil a special project I'd been working on with the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation & surprise two special ladies in our community.
The Celebration
On May 2, 2023, a group of us gathered at The Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville, GA to celebrate the newly named Nell Wiegand Legacy Society. The planned giving society honors the late Gainesville native, Nell Whelchel Wiegand for her lifelong commitment to service and philanthropy - especially to Northeast Georgia Health System.
At the start of this project, I was encouraged to create artwork using the NGHS brand colors, that hints at the NGHS "Laurel Leaf", and that is ultimately inspired by Nell Wiegand's vibrant life.
A fun & challenging prompt to bring into the studio :)
The Process
The silhouette of the Northeast Georgia Health System “Laurel Leaf” — the promised crown of life and victory — served as the first layer on the canvas to help shape the painting. The evolved artwork also hints at an angel motif – with “NW” inscribed at the heart of the painting.
Inspired by Nell's vibrant life, I sought to capture the spark Nell brought to each encounter through colorful, layered artwork that invites the viewer to a place of peace and fullness — with Nell’s influence woven into the layers.
The Finished Paintings
It’s my hope that the “Laurel” paintings would inspire us to live lives full of encouragement, warmth, and generosity -- just like Nell.
