The National Park Medical Center Auxiliary dedicated "The Heart of National Park Medical Center" sculpture created by Light and Time Design Studio on Monday.
The large heart-shaped fabricated metal sculpture sits at the entrance of the hospital's new Heart and Vascular Center of Arkansas.
According to auxiliary President Dorothy Stringer, the group wanted the sculpture to be something that represents the vascular center.
"Our hospital is more about care and compassion and a heart represents that," Stringer said.
The auxiliary provides volunteers to the hospital to do jobs such as work at the information desk, in the gift shop and at admissions. Stringer said they are always in need of more volunteers, and anyone interested can apply in the gift shop.
Stringer said the auxiliary held fundraisers including a scrub sale and a holiday tea tasting for the project.
Light and Time Design Studio, located at 3512 Ragweed Valley Road, in Royal, was selected to create the statue after being put forth for the job by former auxiliary President Sylvia Griffin. The husband, wife and son trio of Bre and David Harris and Brett Anderson constructed the heart in 90 days.
Bre Harris said they showed the auxiliary drawings and created a maquette model to provide a scale visual of the concept. They tweaked their design to better match what the auxiliary wanted.
"It is a timeless design," said Jerry Mabry, president of the RCCH Arkansas market.
The maquette will be available for auction during the American Heart Association Heart Ball silent auction in February.
Work by Light and Time Design Studio can be found around the United States, according to Bre Harris, including the Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial in Little Rock and the Winthrop Rockefeller statue in Morrilton.
Dr. Jeffrey Tauth, interventional cardiologist, said the sculpture will be the first thing patients will see in the new center and it "will leave a lasting impression." He said the sculpture represents what makes the center unique: the only heart hospital in the state attached to a full hospital.
The center opened for public tours Oct. 25 and will begin patient care later this month, according to Mandy Golleher, director of communications and marketing.
"I am thrilled for so many reasons," Golleher said. "It is beautiful and a special focal point for those entering the building. I am proud of the auxiliary and proud to be a part of it."
Golleher said she enjoys that the statue looks different from every angle.
"It turned out great," said Stringer. "I am proud of it."
Local on 12/06/2016