MOSAIC MASTERPIECES

Gleaming through tiny pieces of painted glass, Christ’s arms will reach out through 13-foot-wide tile mosaics to welcome patients and families who enter any Houston Methodist hospital. “The Extending Arms of Christ mosaic symbolizes our calling to provide compassionate, spiritual care for all people regardless of their own faith,” says Dr. Marc Boom, Houston Methodist president and CEO. The original mosaic — a 16-foot-tall by 98-footwide work of art designed by artist Bruce Hayes in 1963 — is in the Barbara and President George H.W. Bush Atrium within the Paula and Joseph C. “Rusty” Walter III Tower of the Houston Methodist Texas Medical Center location. In it, Christ is flanked by Hippocrates, Florence Nightingale and a vivid scene of medicine’s future. Now, guests will see The Extending Arms of Christ mosaic replicas at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital, Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, Houston Methodist West Hospital, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital and Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital. For benefactors, the mosaic replicas provide them with a chance to support both the mosaic replica as well as the Spiritual Care Excellence Fund at the hospital of their choosing. “We believe caring for the human spirit is as important as treating a patient’s illness,” says the Rev. Charles Millikan, vice president of Spiritual Care and Values Integration at Houston Methodist. “We look forward to extending this beautiful symbol of hope and healing to all those who enter the doors of our community hospitals and continuing care facility.”