Continuing a long-standing partnership with Aetna in Hartford, CT, the Greater Hartford Arts Council has embarked on a project with the company that supports a local artist, raises the level of employee engagement and morale, and increases the presence of art at Aetna and in the community. Through the Work of Art partnership, the Arts Council has brought local artist, Nina Salazar, to Aetna to work with a group of employees to create a new piece of art that will be displayed on Aetna's campus upon completion.

The project, which kicked off in mid-December, involves a mosaic-like piecing together of individually painted canvases that, when combined, display images of iconic Hartford architecture. The Colt Building, the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Arch, and the Bushnell Park Carousel will be represented in the final project. Though the individual paintings may not be recognizable, it will be the sum of the parts that reveal the artistry, teamwork, and creativity of the piece. Each employee involved is charged with a difference canvas, and they must work as a group to coordinate neighboring styles and ideas to create a seamless product that also highlights their individuality.

Aetna’s Floyd W. Green III, Vice President and Head of Community Relations and Marketing, as well as a board member of Americans for the Arts, said: “Supporting the arts and people with an artistic background and passion aligns with Aetna’s goal of creating a talented, diverse workforce that can help this company thrive in the future. We are consistently striving to create unique new ideas that can help our business. At the core, art and innovation are incredibly similar and connected. In order to be a leader, we need to think creatively, so focusing on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) activities provides grassroots support for this type of creative thinking.”

To learn more about the first day of the project, visit the Greater Hartford Arts Council's blog. The original piece was posted on December 18, 2014.