Client: Tomah Health - Tomah Memorial Hospital

Overview

Tomah Memorial Hospital’s 2019 expansion, required they commission new art for their lobby. Working with Hovde-Dorsey Art Consultants in Minneapolis, AIA Architects, and the hospital art team, we set goals for the development of four distinct art glass murals, reflecting the regional, natural beauty and seasonal changes of Wisconsin. Collaborating with the team, I successfully designed, developed and created four, multi-panel murals. Spring Sunset on Lake, is made from dimensionally fused glass and stainless steel, and depicts the momentous occasion of the sunset on Lake Tomah. Hand-made glass flowers raise up from the surface of the panel, creating a lovely field of textured plants. Hand-made glass leaves are affixed to a laser-cut metal branch which is affixed to the wall, to give the viewer a unique dimensional perspective.The mural is placed inside a niche area, and warmly greets patients, staff and families in the reception area lobby. The three other murals can be found in on my business Projects Page at CODAworx, where you can view the Summer Cranberry, Autumn Birch Trees and Winter River with Snow murals. Reach out to barbarawestfall.com to commission your favorite landscape.

Goals

The art design consultant and I worked to develop the perfect art for the distinct four niche areas that were being built in the hospital lobby. The art needed to fill the openings with sectional art glass. I collaborated with the construction team during the build out on dimensions and backing. Goals were to create regional outdoor nature scenes to provide respite for patients, their families and staff. Art glass was the perfect choice for the lobby which faces south, providing beautiful shadows on the wall from the illumination of the sunlight that reaches the art.

Process

Numerous drawings were developed to integrate of art glass concepts into architectural plans. Collaboration included working with hospital design team in conjunction with Hovde Dorsey Art Design consultants. Electronic submission of files and one site visit provided the successful integration of concept to installation.