Panda Pediatrics partnered with local artists to transform its waiting area into an art experience. Community members gathered Tuesday to get a glimpse at the clinic’s new look.
Artist John Sebelius said he and Elizabeth Keever, Heartland Community Health Center’s chief development officer, bumped into each other a year ago during a Downtown Lawrence Final Friday. He said he mentioned to her that the Panda Pediatrics lobby needed some love and that local artists could pitch in.
Keever said the project with Panda Pediatrics was inspired by feedback from patients and families as well as insight from health care studies that said receiving medical care can be intimidating for many.
“The waiting room spaces have been thoughtfully designed to provide an interactive and welcoming atmosphere for families, encouraging a sense of comfort during their visit to the clinic,” Sebelius said via email. “By incorporating painting, sculpture, educational games, and light installations, we aimed to activate the minds and bodies of waiting families, turning the waiting time into an enjoyable and educational experience.”
Like Sebelius, fellow contributing artists Angie Pickman and Jeromy Morris are parents whose children currently visit or previously visited Panda Pediatrics. The trio also worked with three teen artists, Opal Morris, Milo Bitters and Maya Smith, who have been Panda Pediatrics patients themselves. Artist Jeremy Rockwell assisted with the installation process.
Read more about the project in this article.
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Molly Adams (she/her), photojournalist and news operations coordinator for The Lawrence Times, can be reached at molly@lawrencekstimes.com. Check out more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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