One of the highlights of my year was seeing 64 of my pieces installed in Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Each piece was created with patients and their families in mind, and they all include “seek and find” plant and animal details so kids and grownups in hallways and waiting rooms can play eye spy (How many fish in this one? How many birds in that one?)
Color palettes and design elements were chosen based on input from Cincinnati Children’s and Kolar with the goal of encouraging relaxation and renewal, and in response to research that has shown that uplifting and beautiful art can help patients heal faster and have a better overall experience.
This project started right before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the first layer of each piece was created collaboratively with high school students using mono-printing techniques with nature and kaleidoscope-themed blocks I carved. We managed to start that “pattern” layer with what, at the time, I did not know was very coincidental timing. About a week later, the schools closed. I then completed the pieces alone at home during the first year of the pandemic, adding layers and details to each piece while the remaining 63 filled my entire tiny apartment, leaning on every wall and piled in small stacks on all of my furniture. This was such a meaningful project, especially during such a difficult time. I’m so grateful to Kolar Design for inviting me to be a part of it.
