Blood Center introduces 2009-2010 artist

With the unveiling of a painting of Castle Hill Light House in the midst of turbulence, a raging hurricane, the Rhode Island Blood Center's Seasons' Pass program officially celebrated its sixth anniversary. The program, which has brought together the arts community and blood donors, has resulted in saving more than 50,000 lives.

The unveiling, and introduction of next year's artist, took place on Wednesday, March 4 at T's Restaurant in East Greenwich.

Individuals who donated four times over the course of the last year, from March 1, 2008 to February 28, 2009, will receive a print of Richard Grosvenor's painting. Prints are available at any of the Rhode Island Blood Center's fixed locations (Warwick, Providence, Middletown, Narragansett, and Woonsocket) or at any blood drive.

The Blood Center also introduced its artist for 2009-2010, Anthony Tomaselli, who also owns T's Restaurant, along with his wife, Tina. Tomaselli's work will be unveiled in March of 2010.

Of his work, Grosvenor said: "The Castle Hill Lighthouse, oblivious to those it helps, stands tall and strong as the vengeance of a hurricane thunders about. So too are blood donors. Unknowing of who it is they eventually help, they bring life to countless individuals who rely upon their strength to turn chaos into hope."

Grosvenor and Tomaselli are the latest of a series of fine local artists who have participated in the program. Previous artists were Cindy Kelly, Maxwell Mays, Richard Benjamin, Harley Bartlett, and Domine Vescera Ragosta.

In the first year of the program, the number of four-time a year donors jumped by 3,020, a 50 percent increase. Over the course of the first six years there were conservatively 18,000 additional blood donations. Since each blood donation can potentially save three lives, the program has, perhaps, saved more than 54,000 lives.

Additionally, the number of sponsors hosting four or more blood drives a year has tripled to more than 250. "When we began this program we wanted to recognize those donors and sponsors who had become our most committed," said Scott Asadorian, the Blood Center's Chief Operating Officer. "We chose four times a year because the four seasons are truly representative of the cycle of life."

The connection between art and healthcare has often been bridged by the recognition of the healing power of art.

Tomaselli was drawn to painting while in high school. He pursued art in private classes and at Rhode Island College and the Boston Architectural Center.

His entrepreneurship has flourished as owner of T's, but T's also has given him a sense of financial freedom that allows him to paint. T's is a virtual Tomaselli art gallery, with his paintings displayed on virtually every corner of both restaurants.

"Painting," Tomaselli said, "is a spiritual journey, an act of getting into a zone with God. We make pictures. Painting has become a vehicle. My physical sensibilities have been challenged attaining a certain level of quality. On a spiritual level, it's that place you go, timeless, speechless and you're there."