Artist Donates Paintings to Hospital

A Rockland artist wants to brighten the world a little bit for patients at a local hospital.

A recent visit to Nyack Hospital and a desire to share her love of painting inspired Phyllis Segura of Piermont to write a letter to Nyack Hospital President & CEO David Freed.  "As an artist, I am very sensitive to my environment.  Bright colors and beautiful artwork makes me feel good," Segura wrote.  "I wanted to share that feeling with patients in the hospital."

As a result, three striking paintings will soon hang in the hospital's Oncology area where patients, visitors, employees and volunteers may enjoy them. 

A Fine Arts graduate of Boston University, Segura's artwork has been exhibited at such venues as the Positano Art School in Italy, NY Open Center, L'Officina de Flavia Zanetti in Switzerland, Freelance Café in Piermont, Grape d'Vine in Tappan, London's The Roundhouse and New York's Carlton Arms Hotel.

Her painting themes oscillate between the interior-oriented personal to large-scale works in the public sphere. In 1999, she completed three decorative murals on newsstands in Times Square with four high school student apprentices. In 2001, the Piermont Garden Herbal-Part One included her drawings and stampings.  In 1970, Segura co-founded and co-edited the video journal Radical Software.  Recent paintings reflect Segura's interpretations of the Hudson River, horizon and sky.

Combining a love of cooking and artwork, Segura, who is also an award-winning chef, is currently working on a cookbook that applies meditation principles to the preparation of food.

"There is a flow between painters and chefs," she said. "It's a connection made naturally both ways."

Nyack Hospital is a 375-bed community acute care medical and surgical hospital located that was founded in 1895 and is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.