the art and artists of cchp

On a life-sized canvas, three women donning headwraps and black, gold, and silver hoop earrings paired with dresses the color of a sunset appear across a blue-sky backdrop at the Center for Comprehensive Health Practice. 

“[My art] is from a larger series about Black women in this area that I see on the street who are so colorful and vibrant. Just that whole vibe that I see…I love to be able to capture it on canvas,” says Sophisticated Cookie, an artist from Brooklyn who lives in Harlem, who painted “Melanated Blossoms,” the painting featured in CCHP’s new facility.

Cookie, who is studying to be an art therapist, says she wants her work to help inspire healing. She says, “I want people to feel a sense of community, ease, beauty, and calmness.” 

When CCHP was designing its new space, the staff knew art was going to play an important role. Healthcare spaces are notoriously bare, but CCHP is different. We know research shows that viewing art can boost mood and overall well-being, so the CCHP staff wanted as much of it in their space as possible. 

After accent walls in the sun-filled space of 35 East 110th Street were painted green and blue to reflect the colors in their logo, the CCHP team set about finding local artists to adorn our bright-colored walls. Ultimately, the team worked with New York-based artists whose work adds a vibrant, meaningful flair to the facility. 

Sandra White, a Bronx native, is the artist behind the abstract series called “The Urban Community Garden,” inspired by her love of gardening. Two of her pieces hang outside one of CCHP’s medical exam rooms. 

“I am so honored to be part of this. Any of the clients that are walking through…it will spark some joy in them,” says White who is grateful to be supported by CCHP. 

Dodji Gbedemah is an artist, musician, and owner of Kente Royal Gallery in Harlem. His painting “Emotion” is featured in CCHP’s playroom. 

“I applaud CCHP’s diversity and inclusion. For them to choose to display artists who are doing the work in the community for the community, it feels like a ‘for us, by us’ type of vibe,” says Gbedemah. 

Gbedemah, an immigrant from Ghana who also works as a community organizer, often fields requests for recommendations for where to seek therapy, healthcare, and treatment for substance use. He’s thrilled he can now refer people to CCHP — and tell them to look out for art from local artists. 

Rafael Colon was raised in the Harlem community and now calls Spanish Harlem home. Colon specializes in painting violins, wood, and jean jackets. He explains why it’s meaningful to him to have his artwork at CCHP.

“I live near the Center for Comprehensive Health Practice, and I believe in the people that live here,” he says. “It's a very diverse group of people. So I knew that the paintings would fit just right in the center.”

Colon describes the effect he hopes his artwork will have on visitors and staff alike.

“My hope is that when people look at my artwork, they feel a lot more relaxed, a lot more in tune with the environment, with their community, that they feel, they don't feel anxious, that they feel that they're at home, that people there are there to help them, not to put any type of stress on them. And that to feel comfortable, really to go in and feel like they're at home.”

Harlem-based artist, Gabrielle Baker heard the artist’s call early in her life, and then again following a career in the healthcare industry. She specializes in the incorporation of natural elements into her creations. CCHP is home to two of her paintings that incorporate Amethyst and Citrine Quartz for the benefit of those at the Center. She describes the intention behind her creations.

“All metals and minerals have vibrational energy,” she explains. “Copper has vibrational energy, gold. When you move to minerals, there's turquoise, there's rose quartz, there's citrine quartz, there's amethyst. And people already have these materials in their homes, or they wear them as jewelry because they're bringing energy to their space, energy to them that vibrational quality, they feel sort of enhances their ability to do things or accomplish things. And so I just thought that these two pieces, ‘Citrine Quartz’ and ‘Amethyst Quartz’ were perfect fits for the Center because of what's happening there. The health center staff are about healing. And these two pieces that I've done represent healing energy.”

CCHP plans to continue to feature the work of local artists as it grows into our new facility. If you are an artist who would like to have your work featured in the center please reach out to Ethan Ledley, ethan.ledley@gmail.com. 

Research and writing for this story provided by Gina Ryder and Edward Stern.

the artists in their own words

Sandra White

Sandra White, a Bronx native, is the artist behind the abstract series called “The Urban Community Garden,” inspired by her love of gardening. Two of her pieces hang outside one of CCHP’s medical exam rooms.

Dodji Gbedemah

Dodji Gbedemah is an artist, musician, and owner of Kente Royal Gallery in Harlem. His painting “Emotion” is featured in CCHP’s playroom.

Sophisticated Cookie

Sophisticated Cookie, an artist from Brooklyn who lives in Harlem, painted “Melanated Blossoms,” the painting featured in CCHP’s new facility.