Published: July 23, 2009 10:00 am      

Local artist transforms BRMC

Special to The Times-Tribune

Through the vision of several people, Baptist Regional Medical Center has been given a new feel. When visiting the facility, the staff invites everyone to take time to look around at the new artwork on the walls. Rhonda Kimura, local artist, has spent the last few months transforming Baptist Regional Medical Center.

The journey began in February when the new critical care unit opened. The waiting room was originally a sage green, but later an Italian villa scene was painted on the walls. Upon entering the CCU waiting room, visitors now feel at ease while surrounded by painted greenery, beautiful columns and a bridge near a villa.

Next it was decided to change the pediatric unit into Pediatric Park. Beside each patient room a different theme was painted varying from a rock park, a giraffe from a zoo, a circus tent, a classic car and a tree park. A sculpture was painted of two elephants with intertwined trunks with a giraffe on each side. It looks as though visitors have entered into a garden scene with shrubs that were sculpted individually.

The Tree of Life is displayed in the main lobby and is made up of leaves that are purchased in memory of individuals. Often it was overlooked as people walked through the lobby. Now the wall is painted as if the Tree of Life was actually a tree, with a beautiful sky and stones below. The color behind the Tree of Life now draws attention as visitors walk through the area.

At the main entrance of Baptist Regional Medical Center, a grand staircase allows patients, visitors and employees to travel between the different floors. Directly under the staircase, a pond with creek rock adds to the decoration. To pull it all together, Kimura painted creek rock onto the staircase with a basket of flowers. Now the staircase and the pond blend as one. It is difficult to know when the pond ends and the stairs begin.

After five months, four locations now have murals. All of this was made possible with the commitment of the Volunteer Auxiliary. Throughout the year, numerous fundraisers were held, but the majority of the funds were raised at the Holiday Extravaganza.

“We knew that we wanted to invest the money in a manner to benefit our patients,” said Debbie Hardin, Director of Volunteer Services. “We never dreamed that color and paint partnered with the right artist would transform a simple wall into such a conversation piece. As soon as Rhonda started the job, people flocked to the area. Since we started this project, everyone (among the hospital staff) has been asking for their area to be the next location.”