Operation Picasso
Art & Healing
“The moment I finished installing a piece of art, the art became
theirs, nourishing their souls; the rooms and hallways became more their
home.”
— Richard Amend, artist and curator for Operation Picasso
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Phase One: From Concept to Reality
In 2004, Foundation Guild members Barbara Hirsch and Neva Williams had the idea for a project that would bring together Ojai’s talented art community with the hospital’s healing environment — and so Operation Picasso was born. Local artists and patrons donated approximately 200 original works of art, helping to enhance the hospital’s atmosphere and create a tranquil, positive environment for staff and patients alike.
Phase Two: New Departments & Programs
When Community Memorial Hospital – Ojai opened the doors to a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Department in 2010 — thanks to a generous donation from Chilant Sprague and our esteemed family of hospital supporters — artist Cindy Pitou Burton’s serene photographic work was selected to add to the atmosphere.
Around the same time, we further expanded Operation Picasso to include “Art Matters,” a program in which local artists provided informative, engaging weekly presentations and hands-on activities for residents of the Community Memorial Continuing Care Center.
Phase Three: Finessing the Idea
Thanks in large part to a 2010 ArtsLIVE Community Partnership Grant — made possible through the Ventura County Arts Council and James K. Irvine Foundation — renowned local artist Richard Amend and a team of dedicated Foundation Guild volunteers took Operation Picasso to new heights. With the funds from this generous grant, Amend devoted his time and talents to maintain, curate and advance the project.
“Operation Picasso is a true community project. From the organizers
to the artists to the patrons to the doctors and nurses to the patients
to the visitors to the staff — everyone took part in making the
project happen and in reaping the benefit of the power of art in a healthcare
setting. It is an ongoing pleasure to work on this project.”
— Barbara Hirsch, Co-Chair Operation Picasso
Thank You to Our Local Artists
Operation Picasso wouldn’t be possible without the talent and dedication of the local artists whose work remains on display as part of our permanent collection. A special thank you to these artists, as well as the Burns Family Foundation, which graciously funded museum-quality framing for the artwork.
- Carmen Abelleira White
- Richard Amend
- Jesse Arms Botke
- Jannene Behl
- Betsy Bland
- Bobbie Boschan
- Leo Braun
- Marsha Braun
- Christine Brennan
- Kathleen Brewer
- Cindy Pitou Burton
- Kent Butler
- Sharon Butler
- Lucy Burns
- Myrna Cambianica
- Bonnie Caruk Riege
- Gayel Childress
- Mary Cogswell
- Bert Collins
- Roger Conrad
- Annie Crosse
- Steven Curry
- Evelyn Dayman
- Pippa Delesha
- Bernadette DiPietro
- Cele Donath
- Kathleen Doud Reiley
- Jim Durkin
- Ruth Farnham
- Maudette Finck
- Christine Golden
- Donna Granata
- Barbara Greene
- Steve Grumette
- Tom Hardcastle
- Kate Hoffman
- Gino Hollander
- Hoadley
- Sandy Jones
- Peter Justin
- Leila Kleiman
- Norman Kirk
- Pat Ellin Lakin
- Rev. Coryl Lassen
- Don Lazo
- Keith Lee
- Shahastra Levy
- Karen Lewis
- Sherry Loehr
- Nancy Lomax
- Susan Vernand Magness
- Marian Marshall
- William McEnroe
- James Menzel-Joseph
- Mary Michel
- Jennifer Moses
- Marta Nelson
- Marilyn Noad
- Beverlee Park-Sherbo
- Susan Petty
- Elisse Pogofsky-Harris
- Robert Rene
- Brigitta Reveles
- Marlene Rimensberger
- Elaine Rogers
- Nancy Rosen
- Fred Rothenberg
- Teal Rowe
- Mary Kennedy &
- Richard Keit RTK Studios
- Audrey Sanders
- Betty Saunders
- Valerie Schmidt
- Dewey Schorre
- Debra Scolari
- Jennie Scott
- Al Setton
- Joanie Sibner Chiarodit
- Jeff Sojka
- Richard Stine
- Susan Stinsmuehlen-Amend
- Wendy Thomas
- Kaarina Tienhaara
- Carole Topalian
- Thomas Vanderzyl
- Patty Van Dyke
- Katie Van Horne
- Elizabeth White
- Nancy Whitman
- D’Anira Wiseman
- Robert Wolfe
