Client: Monroe Carell Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

Overview

The long and slightly curved expanse of the wall on the lower 4th floor provided a space for creating a pond habitat, a narrative that relating to the overall theme of the atrium addition: water and nature. We designed “Waterfall Pond” for this narrative. Envision a waterfall “falling” from the 5th floor balcony (which overlooks the 4th floor) onto the 4th floor, tying the two floors together. The waterfall becomes the central element of a serene and peaceful pond habitat. Four geese are interacting with each other at the pond’s edge, while flowers and birds surround the waterfall and create

Goals

Creating a positive and joyful experience through art is our first objective in designing “Waterfall Pond” for the new addition at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The subsequent objectives were to create art that is consistent with the look and quality of Vanderbilt Medical Center’s overall art collection, to enhance the architectural design of the building, to adhere to the rules and regulations concerning safety and durability, and to create artwork that the children, families and employees of the Children’s Hospital will love.

Process

Rob Ogilvie and I, Lanie Gannon, are long-time artistic collaborators. As artists who work together, we begin our method of creative inquiry and conceptualization by taking inspiration from the site and the environment. We develop an understanding of the environment’s space, its purpose, the community that it will serve, and its cultural life. After this initial conceptualization, the research and development phase begins, with an investigation into materials, the technical exploration of fabrication techniques, budget, and the paramount considerations of safety, security and durability. Crucial to these different phases of creating a significant and large-scale work of art is the input of the many people who contribute their expertise to its realization. This work and attention to detail culminates into the final phase of the project—the installation and unveiling of the work to the public. The interpretation and interaction between the work of art and the public completes the piece, and is its ultimate goal.