New Hawaii Medical Center Unveils Mosaic Mural Facade

BOSTON, MA – December 2023 – At the entrance of the newly-renovated East Hawaii Health Cancer Center (EHHCC) at Hilo Medical Center in Hilo, Hawaii, a new mosaic mural greets patients and their families as they enter the facility. Designed by local artist Kristie Kosmides, the mural is a testament to resilience and community support, making it more than just a piece of art—but a beacon of hope for the center’s patients.

Throughout the piece, onlookers find depictions of locals—some of whom have battled cancer themselves, and the others, the loved ones who supported them. To accurately render the forms of each person, Kosmides worked with a local photographer in a one-day photoshoot to capture their poses and figures for the artwork. Within the mural, each figure is seen either making direct eye contact or physically touching another figure in the mural, deepening the connection between them and creating a scene that reflects on the beauty of life through friendships and family of all ages and ethnicities.

For the backdrop, Kosmides drew inspiration from native Hawaiian flora and fauna, the local Wailuku River, rainbows, and clothing by Sig Zane, a Hilo-based designer, to create a visual ‘thread’ that connects the figures in the mural. From the reflection of the island’s lush landscape, to young boys on the sandy shore, to the community healers extending medicinal plants, the image emanates a sense of welcome and warmth. In her artist statement, Kosmides references the island’s “Rainbow Falls, which are near the facility, “Ka mana’olana aloha o nā lima ko’o o ke ’ānuenue”: “The supporting hands of the Rainbow bring hope, love, and healing for all who come to her.” The artwork is a greeting that tells all entering the facility that they are not alone in their journey and as a reminder to each patient that within the walls of the EHHCC, there is a network of support ready to uplift and accompany each patient on their path to healing. 

Primarily an oil painting artist, Kosmides seamlessly transitioned her artistic abilities into the mosaic medium to leave a lasting impression on the EHHCC. The journey to create the artwork for the center’s facade began as an idea for a painted mural reflective of the community and representing the people it served. As the building’s facade design was in planning, durability, and scale were top of mind for Kosmides – she knew her artwork would have to withstand Hilo’s tropical weather and be recognizable from a distance. After working with Boston-based mosaic designer and manufacturer Artaic on previous projects across the island, Kosmides confidently recommended mosaic as an ideal medium for the project to the EHHCC team. 

After sending Kosmides’ original drawings, the Artaic design team got to work with Artaic’s proprietary software, Tylist™, to render each color, pixel, and detail of the artwork into what would become the mosaic. Following a few rounds of revisions to get the artwork just right, Kosmides and Artaic created a mosaic masterpiece that captures even the most minute detail of the original piece into 12×12 sheets made of 31 different shades of ½” Vitreous Glass tile. Through the collaboration with Artaic, Kosmides effectively cut out the labor time of physically painting the mural onto the building and ensured her artwork would be durable enough to withstand elements, staying vibrant for years to come.

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ABOUT ARTAIC

Artaic specializes in the design, fabrication, and assembly of award-winning mosaics, employing cutting-edge robotic technology and innovative design tools. Artaic’s proprietary Tylist™ software enables its in-house design team to create custom mosaics from source imagery of all mediums—whether drawings, photographs, logos, or ideas and concepts. With a wide range of materials, including vitreous glass, sintered glass, stone, and glazed porcelain, Artaic’s team ensures each creation is distinct and tailored to the client’s vision. At the heart of Artaic’s philosophy is the elevation of the tile mosaic to an art form. Whether introducing a distinctive artistic element to a project or translating an artist’s work into a new medium, Artaic fosters a reevaluation of tile as a powerful element of design and art. Artaic also offers a catalog of preconceived design collections—such as Flourish, Splash!, Lasting Rugs, and Verge—that can be customized to fit projects of any scale and made unique by an expansive material and color palette. The Boston-based company’s tailored approach and unique manufacturing process increase design flexibility and artistic expression while decreasing lead time and cost, making it a go-to resource for architects, interior designers, and artists across the globe.