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HOW KIDS HELP BUILD A HOSPITAL:
PROVIDENCE HOOD RIVER’S NEW ADDITION
RECEIVES THE YOUTHFUL TOUCH
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Aug. 7, 2009
HOOD RIVER, Ore. – At Providence Hood River, young people are helping to build a new hospital addition with their bare hands.
Local Columbia River Gorge children, in cooperation with the nonprofit Columbia Center for the Arts “Summer Art Experiences” program, have begun to transform a plain grey wall, five feet high and 22 feet long, into a colorful Gorge mosaic. Commissioned by Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, the project is the brainchild of local artists Shelley Toon Hight and Mark Nilsson.
With the “tap, tap, tap” of hammers, the kids break glossy tiles into smaller pieces and mix them into pleasing palettes of color. Under the watchful eye of the professional artists, the kids use glue guns loaded with construction cement to cover a grey cement wall with vibrant tiles. It’s a dirty job - but results will be stunning.
“This is the coolest thing I have ever done,” said one young artist, whose fingertips were covered with sticky glue gun leftovers.
The mosaic design represents a sweeping view of the Gorge area and includes curling waves, vibrant windsurfers, multi-colored pears and a panorama of spectacular scenery. The wall is located outside Providence Hood River’s new entrance on 12th Street. The mosaic is visible both inside and outside the hospital.
“This is such a treat, to watch as the art unfolds before our very eyes,” said Ty W. Erickson, Providence Hood River’s chief executive. “We wanted to get local kids involved because this wall is a permanent part of our new hospital. Visitors will enjoy the art for years to come and the design will delight all generations,” Erickson said.
In the next few weeks, artists Nilsson and Toon Hight will add professional touches and then Providence employees will get involved in the project.
The wall mosaic is the 16th art project created this year as part of the hospital’s new 36,000 square-foot addition in Hood River.
With the expertise of 10 local artists, more than 700 students from Columbia River Gorge classrooms, from Hood River, Cascade Locks, The Dalles and White Salmon, created 15 gallery-quality projects through a partnership with the schools and nonprofit Columbia Gorge Arts in Education program inside the new Providence hospital building.
“Local children and artists throughout the Gorge put their hands and their hearts into creating our healing art gallery,” Erickson said. “They are helping to bring comfort, peace and inspiration to our patients, our visitors and our community,” he said.
Providence Hood River has a long history of working with area schools, children. artists and community groups on a variety of meaningful projects in its 77 year history. Each year, the not-for-profit hospital incorporates local healing art into its facilities.
Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital was recently awarded Oregon State’s 2009 Outstanding Community/School Partnership Award for its longstanding support of school programs with Hood River County School District.
Kids are the future – the future of our community, our health care and our world,” said Erickson. “Many of these kids were born here, and so were their relatives and friends. This hospital is their hospital, in more ways than one.”
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Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital is part of Providence Health & Services, the state’s leading health system and largest private employer. Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital is a full-service, critical-access hospital with a 24-hour emergency department. Providence offers a wide range of health care services in the communities of the Columbia River Gorge through its clinics, care centers and senior living facilities. |
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