Molly Murphy

This spring Harborview Hospital, through the 4Culture Public Art program in King County, Washington commissioned a large work of mine to hang in a new building that opened this last May. The piece titled Body / Continent is my response to the commissioners’ request to provide an atmosphere of welcome and comfort while illustrating medical concepts. Specifically the board wanted imagery that spoke to patients and families coming to Seattle from the greater Northwest.

I worked with an idea of the human body in comparison with the landscape as a body. The Continental Divide has always had a fascination for me as a stark line, a division of elements and cultures. I cross the Divide often in my travels here in Montana and I am always mindful of that sense of entering a new and different space.

Within the wall hanging I illustrated themes of home, safety, circulation, movement and resources. The top panel on both halves illustrate the circulatory system of the human body and the lowest panel illustrates the rivers as circulatory systems of the Northwest. The central panels show native lodges and the landscape reminiscent of the Rocky Mountain Front.

I hope my work brings a sense of welcome and comfort for families visiting Harborview Hospital.