Sneak peek inside new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital: Patients' hand-crafted tiles adorn walls, welcome areas

By Juliana Keeping AnnArbor.com Health & Environment Reporter

Posted on Tue, May 3, 2011 : 11:17 a.m.

Hand-made clay tiles from more than 1,000 young patients adorn the walls at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, set to open in November.

University of Michigan Health System photo

The doors haven’t opened yet, but when they do, tiles crafted by more than 1,000 young patients will brighten the walls and greet families at the University of Michigan Health System’s new children's hospital.

On its blog, the hospital released rare photos from inside C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, both set to open in a new building in November.

A bedside art program at the existing Mott Children’s Hospital has helped keep young patients’ minds off pain, doctor visits and medication schedules since 2008. That’s when Mott partnered with Detroit-based Pewabic Pottery and created a bedside art program.

Volunteers, employees, families and the hospital have since sponsored about 1,600 tiles that have cost about $100 each. That cost covers the clay tiles and the installation, as well as a framed photo of each child’s tile and a guidebook to help families find the tiles once they are installed.

The tiles decorate welcome desks and welcome areas in the 12-floor children’s hospital.

Tiles up so far depict flowers, angels, animals, stars and other scenes. Some of the tiles are imprints of infants' hands and feet. The walls of the hospital are also adorned with tile work from professional designers.

View more tiles on this Mott Facebook page created to showcase the work.

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