Hanging Mobile Atrium Art: Monarch Butterfly Sculpture

Suspended Art for Large Places. This blog post features new photographs of the suspended installation currently on display in the atrium of the Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) in Houma, Louisiana. Banner Art Studio was proud to work in collaboration with the art buyer at this nationally recognized healthcare provider to design a large scale hanging kinetic fabric mobile that maintains continuity of the hospital’s brand, messaging and art motifs.

The sewn-in surface design of leaves and monarch butterflies sends a message to patients, guests and staff that this is a place of renewal, healing and regeneration. Our client added the foam body, head and antennae of the hanging nylon butterflies post production to further personalize the piece.

Like all of our hanging atrium art, the tapestry of the mobile is attached to welded stainless steel armatures. The art work itself is lightweight, light translucent and has gentle, meditative movement that is therapeutic for hospital patients. It balances to hang as a single mobile sculpture from one point in the ceiling, and it moves to give a continually changing perspective.

The atrium hanging art piece is approximately 26′ high and 11′ wide. While of formidable size, the total weight of the piece is less than 200 lbs. The eye-catching, brightly colored nylon piece is fire retardant, ultra violet protected, and dirt and dust resistant. Its scale is perfectly matched to the large architectural atrium space it occupies, and its beauty lends cheer to the hospital’s atrium.

We are excited about a new technique we have developed at Banner Art Studio to produce and ship large-scale mobiles. We are now able to ship a 30′ piece because we fabricate separate pieces that are assembled on delivery. The technique is a win-win because aesthetically, it produces a much more elegant design.

Terrebonne General Medical Center is a public, non-profit hospital. The hospital is a nationally recognized healthcare leader with over 1,300 employees, 321 beds, more than 150 active staff physicians, and 50 volunteers. The TGMC brand is well-established, and includes a Women’s Center, Cancer Center, Outpatient Surgery Center, Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation, Diagnostic Imaging Services, Women’s Imaging and Breast Center and a Community Outreach Center. The hospital has been recognized for its outstanding cardiac, orthopedic and emergency services.

Banner Art Studio fabricates the custom designs of Mettje Swift, a Colorado artist and designer of mobiles and fabric art. Banner Art Studio creates suspended fabric art and sculpture for cities, municipal governments, cultural organizations, hospitals, public art programs, non-profit agencies, corporations, residences and the military. Banner Art Studio’s custom fabric applique banners and suspended fabric and stainless steel artwork is “jewelry for building interiors”, beautfies city streets with light pole banners and across the street banners, delineates historic plazas and city parks, and celebrates fairs and festivals. The Studio produces large quantities as well as one-of-a-kind products for its customers across the U.S. and the world.

View our Gallery of Large Scale Butterfly Art

To learn more about TGMC, click here.

To learn more about Banner Art’s work in hospitals and doctor’s offices, click here.
To view a photo gallery of Banner Art’s interior art, light pole banners and across the street banners, click here.