Art by Students Enlivens Novant Clinic

The Novant Health SouthPark Family Practice is the site of a vibrant exhibition of 130 works of art by students from UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College. The works, a wide range of painting, photography, sculpture, illustration and more, will be on display in the lobby and throughout the four floors of the medical facility through September 3.

Under the guidance of UNC Charlotte Assistant Professor of Painting Andrew Leventis and Central Piedmont Art Gallery Coordinator Amelia Zytka, the students – 35 from UNC Charlotte and 10 from Central Piedmont – took the lead in curating and installing the work.

“Some students had never hung a show before,” said Leventis. He and Zytka taught them how.

“The installation day provided students across institutions a moment to learn the process of curating, hanging, and professionally presenting their work to the public,” Leventis said. “This was a fun experience, with UNC Charlotte students working alongside CPCC students, and participants throughout the day gave positive and constructive feedback to each another.”

For many students, Leventis added, the Novant exhibition is their first occasion to show their work publicly outside of the University galleries.

The initiative to showcase student art at Novant Health SouthPark Family Practice began in 2019 when the medical plaza was under construction. A team from Novant, including Regional Clinic Manager Jenna Weathersbee, toured an exhibition of student art at Central Piedmont and developed the idea to bring work to the SouthPark facility. In 2020, they hosted work by Central Piedmont art students.

“Our 4th floor alone saw over 30,000 patient encounters in the first year of opening, so the displayed pieces have the opportunity to be viewed and enjoyed by a large audience,” Weathersbee said.

This year, Zytka invited Leventis to coordinate students from UNC Charlotte and expand the exhibition.

“The second show was just installed, and each separate show has been a huge hit,” said Weathersbee. “The patients as well as the Novant team members in the space have thoroughly enjoyed the art, and several pieces have been purchased as well. We are thankful to have the opportunity to work with both CPCC and UNCC in our second show and look forward to continuing this partnership into the future.”