Oceanside CA— Tri-City Medical Center has partnered with renowned artist Lori Escalara to produce sidewalk art at the hospital’s Oceanside campus to honor heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A North County resident and Tri-City Medical Center patient, Escalara is reproducing the classic World War I era painting “Have You Answered the Red Cross Christmas Roll Call” by Harrison Fisher, which depicts a Red Cross nurse as soldiers march behind her with the American flag.
“With Memorial Day coming, and this being a military community, this artwork addresses everything about this moment,” said Escalara.
“This painting is a historic piece created during the last worldwide pandemic and speaks to the hard work of both frontline healthcare workers and our military,” remarked Aaron Byzak, Chief External Affairs Officer for Tri-City Medical Center. “We are so proud to be working with Lori to honor our community’s heroes, past and present.”
The sidewalk art will be eight feet wide by twelve feet long and produced over three days, culminating on May 22nd. Escalara is donating her talent and dedicating six hours each day to the final product. Additionally, she will be available to speak to Tri-City Medical Center staff members and patients who choose to watch her work.
Her art will be a part of the I MADONNARI Italian Street Painting Festival, which is typically held as a live event in Santa Barbara, but will be held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participating artists will create their chalk pastels pieces on their driveways during the Memorial Day weekend on May 23-25.
The I Madonnari Festival raises funds for the Children’s Creative Project (CCP) for arts education programs serving more than 100 public schools and 50,000 students. CCP is a non-profit program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office.
For photos and videos of the progress, visit www.facebook.com/TriCityMedicalCenter
About Tri-City Medical Center
Tri-City Medical Center has served our community for nearly 60 years and is one of the largest employers in North San Diego County. As full-service acute care hospital with three primary care clinics and over 500 physicians practicing in over 60 specialties, Tri-City is vital to the well-being of our community and serves as a healthcare safety net for many of our citizens. The hospital has received a Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission showcasing a commitment to safe and effective patient care for the residents of the community.
Tri-City Medical Center prides itself on being the home to leading orthopedic, spine and cardiovascular health services while also specializing in world-class women’s health, robotic surgery, cancer and emergency care. Tri-City’s Emergency Department is there for your loved ones in their time of need and is highly regarded for our heart attack and stroke treatment programs. When minutes matter Tri-City is your source for quality compassionate care close to home. The hospital operates the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in North County. Tri-City partners with over 50 local non-profit and community organizations as part of our COASTAL Commitment initiative. Together we are helping tackle some of our communities’ pressing health and social needs.
For more information about Tri-City Medical Center and Tri-City Healthcare District, please visit tricitymed.org.