Sculptress Spann Donates to St. Elizabeth Hospital
Renowned artist, Gene F. Spann, and her son, Grey, donated one of her sculptures, Praying Angel, to St. Elizabeth Hospital on July 19, 2013. Spann and her family were looking for places to house many of her works since she decided to move into smaller living arrangements. A fellow artist, dear friend, and student of Spann, Frances Prestridge, was enlisted to help. Prestridge, a member of the hospital’s Patient Loyalty Council, suggested that the sculpture of the angel be placed at St. Elizabeth.
Spann studied art at LSU, and over three-decades studied various art forms in Trinidad, Australia, Holland, Belgium and the United States. She has been honored as a fifth level sculpturer by the Board of State Artists in Belgium. (7th level is the highest.) In addition to studying under several well-known artists in Belgium, Connecticut, New York, and Holland, she was also one of only four artists selected to study under Theresa DeGoot, the primary sculptor of realistic statues and object works for the Royal Family of the Netherlands. Due to the beauty and precision of her work, she has produced several commissioned works including drawings, paintings, and sculptures.
Chief Operating Officer, Sue Knight, said “We are very grateful to Mrs. Spann and her family for donating this beautiful piece. It is a true privilege to be able to display artwork from such as a prestigious artist.” The hospital plans to display the sculpture in its chapel.
About St. Elizabeth Hospital
St. Elizabeth Hospital is a 78-bed acute care facility located in Gonzales, Louisiana. The hospital is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System.
St. Elizabeth Hospital has twice been recognized as the Hospital of the Year by the Louisiana Nurses Foundation, and has twice been named to the 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare® by Modern Healthcare Magazine, along with numerous other awards for quality. The hospital continually strives to live out its mission to serve those most in need by providing the highest quality healthcare delivered in a compassionate manner.