Northeast Georgia Medical Center - Braselton, GA

Nature's Tapestry    11' x 13'

Thirty miles northeast of Atlanta, Braselton is close to the southern tip of the Appalachians. The natural beauty of this area is inspiring and healing, a sensibility embraced by the designers and staff of the hospital. The building is Leed certified as being efficient in resource usage and incorporating low-toxicity materials, and using every opportunity to harness the healing power of Nature for its patients. Natural materials, gardens, sunlight, healthy food offerings, walking paths, etc., support this mission.

I felt moved to embrace this aesthetic in my work for the chapel. A window wall 13' high by 11' wide dominates the intimate space and is comprised of 7 tall 'banners' of glass imagery. Each banner has a predominant color, into which I have rendered native species of grasses and insects, the night sky, a dense tapestry of native plants, butterflies and moths, rain and fish, birds and animals. Nearby is a bookshelf with field guides for identification, as well as volumes of nature-based poetry, guides to North Georgia hiking, etc.

Another bank of windows tells stories from the history of the town's founders, and the patrons of the chapel, the Braselton family.