Jamie Morgan was commissioned to make murals for the 6th floor Pediatric Clinic. The murals are located in the main waiting area, the sick waiting area, the play area, the back corridor, and several exam rooms. They were created in a series of workshops with youth, under Morgan’s direction, at the Hospital and at three elementary schools.

The artwork of the murals stems from the imaginations of elementary school children and appeals to all ages, while being appropriate for the Pediatric Clinic. The vignettes from daily life are reminiscent of folk art from around the world. Various environments celebrate a playful coexistence of animals and people, through environments such as “The Ocean,” “A Tropical Garden,” “A Far Away Land,” “Space Travel,” and “The Circus.”

Using examples from folk art, Morgan asked all workshop participants to create their own drawings on the above themes, from which he selected images which he later cut as silhouette figures out of 1/8” Masonite. Workshop participants returned to paint their figures, which Morgan attached to larger Masonite background panels before installing them in the Pediatric Clinic.

In his workshops, Morgan guided students through the painting process, teaching them techniques for handling paint and attaining details they previously achieved in their drawings. He then configured and connected the panels to fit available wall spaces, creating a visual continuity with the painting of the background areas and defining the contours of the panel shapes. The mural panels are installed only on the upper portions of designated walls so there is continuity in their visual presence from waiting area to corridor to exam room and so they do not interfere with clinic activities.