“A Journey Through Neighboring Gardens”

BJC Campus Renewal: Plaza West Tower

Plants sustain us physically and emotionally through the food we eat, the medicines that cure our illnesses, the flowers we gift to celebrate joy or convey sympathies, and myriad other ways. The land that produces this bounty also receives it back, cycling matter through a breathtaking array of forms and functions. The design concept for the 16-story Plaza West Tower* at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, “A Journey Through Neighboring Gardens,” puts this essential role of plants in the spotlight. Healthcare Design Magazine highlights that, “Each floor will be represented by a different neighboring garden in St. Louis, with imagery and graphics that reflect botanicals found within that garden. Additionally, the project will include artwork and suspended sculptures in the public entry spaces. Each sculpture will include a distinct color for wayfinding that will relate to the botanical concept and color story for the new tower and plaza entry.”

Above: The colors for the patient rooms.

The patient rooms, which are spread across 12 of the 16 floors, each have a large graphic on the wall of the room opposite the bed. These graphics are enlarged reproductions of the original paintings that I created for this project—with the exception of the 5th floor, which has one painting due to the smaller number of patient rooms, there are three paintings per floor that were used to make the graphics, providing visual consistency on each floor, while still offering some variation. In total, I created 34 paintings across 12 different gardens or natural areas, in three locations in and around St. Louis: Forest Park, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and Shaw Nature Reserve. These world-class gardens, parks, and wild landscapes offer unique opportunities to connect with nature, and especially with ecologically critical native species—something I’ve long known but came to appreciate even more through my creative process.

Above: 1) Standing with “Japanese Iris” in one of the patient rooms. 2) “Red and Yellow Iris” seen through the window of one of the ICU rooms. 3) “Blue Iris” on the wall of one of the ICU rooms. 4) “Woodland Phlox” in one of the recovery rooms.

To create the paintings, I visited each location multiple times over the course of a year to observe the plants and compose my images, photographing the flora in their peak seasons. Although I focused on flowers and foliage, I also captured distinctive background elements that provide a sense of place in some of the works. For each painting, I drew a sketch from the photograph, making compositional adjustments when needed, but largely adhering to the image as photographed, because of the goal to highlight our local botanical diversity and the places that steward these species. Although the paintings are realistic, I also wanted them to feel like paintings—to add something that can’t be captured in a photo. Introducing abstract elements through texture, light, shadow, and color that breathe life into the painting is a signature element of my artwork.

With this body of work, I invite you to explore the ways you rely on plants for your wellbeing and appreciate the amazing diversity and beauty present in this city and the surrounding region.

*The Plaza West Tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJH) is part of BJC Campus Renewal, “a long-term project to transform Washington University Medical Campus (WUMC) through new construction and renovations with an overall focus on improving the patient and family experience.” BJC highlights that, “Plaza West Tower, the new 16-story patient care tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, will welcome patients beginning in October. The tower will provide private rooms for heart and vascular patients, advanced imaging, and the latest in surgical preparation and recovery. Plaza West Tower is designed to enhance the experience for patients and their families under the expert care of WashU Medicine physicians and BJC HealthCare clinical teams.”

Forest Park

Moore Meadow

Fifth Floor

Missouri Botanical Garden

Shaw Nature Reserve

Whitmire Wildflower Garden

Thirteenth Floor

Please note that all works in this project are subject to copyright. BJC has purchased the original works along with the right to reproduce them. Erin Blumer retains the right to portfolio/promotional use and personal use. As such, neither the original works nor prints/reproductions are available for sale. If you would like to discuss a commission or request a print of an artwork that is not part of this specific collection, please contact me!