Renowned artist Gay Outlaw creates first public sculpture for her hometown at Children’s & Women’s Hospital
The piece, Bed of Flowers, was constructed in San Francisco and Mobile and features 120 cast aluminum blooms in various shades of hot pink. The flowers are connected to a network of cast bronze stems.
By Casandra Andrews
candrews@health.southalabama.edu
For the enjoyment of patients, families and staff, Children’s & Women’s Hospital formally dedicated a new art sculpture on Nov. 1 created by internationally renowned artist Gay Outlaw.
The sculpture, called Bed of Flowers, was completed in October by Outlaw, a Mobile native who lives in San Francisco. Her work has most recently been exhibited at SOTA in Kyoto, Japan, Le Consortium in Dijon, France, and the Aspen Art Museum in Colorado. She also has sculptures on permanent display at the San Francisco International Airport.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring such a stunning piece of art to Children’s & Women’s Hospital,” said Debbie Browning, MSN, RN, CENP, CEO of Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “Our hope is that everyone who visits can experience the joy and beauty of these vibrant flowers for years to come. We are profoundly grateful for the generosity of Mrs. Arlene Mitchell, who made this sculpture possible.”
Browning, University of South Alabama President Jo Bonner and Outlaw spoke at the ceremony, each recognizing Mitchell for leading the project.
“You are my new hero for positive energy,” Outlaw told Mitchell from the podium. “I can’t thank you enough.”
The sculpture was commissioned by Mitchell, chair pro tem of the USA Board of Trustees and a longtime philanthropist and volunteer at the hospital. Mitchell said it has been her dream for years to have a piece of artwork from Outlaw at the hospital.
The piece was constructed in San Francisco and Mobile and features 120 cast aluminum flowers in various shades of hot pink. The flowers are connected to a network of cast bronze stems. The sculpture now fills an oval-shaped concrete median in front of the hospital’s pediatric emergency center for the enjoyment of visitors and staff.
