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desk in the lobby. An ostrich egg? And
what’s with the Escher-like artwork under
the glass of an elliptical welcome desk in
Bloomberg Children’s atrium lobby? The
five orbs seemingly floating at the end of
a corridor in front of a 28-foot marble
wall on the main level? The book niches
and wall art? Other artworks ranging from
ceramic sculptures to collages, paintings,
photographic prints and watercolors. And
art as window screens?
The three-foot tall egg was indeed delivered
by the outsized ostrich and nestled
into a notch on the spiraling, six-foot-high
information desk. The desk itself, sculpted
from an acrylic solid surface, is a clear and
artful point of reception.
“You’ll see that desk and the art, which is
part of the entry experience,” says Kolkowitz.
“You will want to get closer and it will
sustain your interest as you get closer.”
The lobby elliptical art under glass—
Brooklyn artist Scott Teplin’s ink and
watercolor drawing—reveals an intricate
maze of canals, pools and ponds, rooms
and water slides for young minds to follow,
if they can. They’re also challenged to
find objects hidden within the imaginary
spaces.
The illusionary three-dimensional orbs
floating in space are the “Parallax Knots”
of Brooklyn, N.Y. artist Thomas Burke’s
acrylic on canvas paintings. They’re actually
flat paintings, notes Rosen, but they’ll
catch your eye as you’re walking down the
main level corridor.
“It will draw you down the hall and as
you’re looking at the art the baby rhino,
which comes up to the height of the main
18 HOPKINS CHILDreN’S | hopkinschildrens.org
There’s a certain amount of complexity in the
design, and a feeling of activity and aliveness that
reflects all the great stuff that happens here.
– INSTALLATION ArTIST SPeNCer FINCH
level window, will be looking right at you,”
says Rosen. “With all those saturated colors
of the paintings and the baby rhino, this
should be a happy conversation.”
The book niches, glass-enclosed displays
embedded in the walls at the elevator
lobbies on each floor, contain colorful
dioramas created by Baltimore artist Jennifer
Strunge. Using recycled clothing and
cloth, she populated each niche with fanciful
creatures, including monkeys, bunnies
and an octopus, reading children’s classics
like “Goodnight Moon” and “The Secret
Garden.”
On the wall of each elevator lobby is a
corresponding work of art—one of more
than 300 such works of art in the building
by over 30 artists—inspired by a theme,
scene or story line in a particular book in
the neighboring niche. This marriage of art
and literature takes children by the hand
on a journey to another time, another
place, where they may face—but also overcome—perilous
obstacles.
California artist Terri Friedman, for example,
was inspired by the determination
and deep love of two characters in “Fly
High, Fly Low,” which allowed them to
rise above adversity. Regarding her painting
in the family lounge on Level 4, she
notes that “The sun’s rays over the water
represent hope, love and faith. Stormy skies
are healed by the rays of the sun.” Similarly,
Philadelphia artist Joy Feasley was
inspired by an illustration in “King Stork”
by Howard Pyle. Her painting on Level 12,
she notes, imagines a dramatic castle and
other magical places where “beauty is everywhere,
even during the most frightening
moments of the story.”
Such artworks permeate Bloomberg
Children’s Center, and the messages of
courage and optimism they leave for young
patients are like treasured messages in a
bottle, buoyant and beloved.
“We wanted the art in the building to
celebrate the power of books as a means
to promote healing,” explains Rosen. “But
we’re not trying to be prescriptive about
what you should read or see in a book.
Everyone has their own imagination, everyone
can see what they see. It’s an opportunity
to explore and feel free.”
The concept of window screen as art
came to light when designers realized the
walls of patient rooms leave little room for
anything but medical equipment. An added
inspiration was Baltimore’s folk tradition of
painting doors and window screens, which
explains why local landmarks like Camden
Yards, the pagoda in Patterson Park, and
the historic Shot Tower are featured on the