Looking To Mother Nature For Resilience, Local Artist Molly Zimmer Brings The Bosque Into The Waiting Room

Albuquerque, NM -  In collaboration with Design Plus, local artist Molly Zimmer has created a 4 x 10 feet immersive wool felt wall mural inspired by the Bosque landscape for X-Ray Associates of New Mexico’s newly constructed Breast Health and Imaging Center.  Sandhill cranes are depicted taking flight along the autumn-colored cottonwood trees of the Bosque with the Sandia Mountains in the distance. The mural is installed in the 2nd floor diagnostic waiting area where patients are typically facing a stressful, long visit which may confirm a difficult outcome. Evoking patients' own memories, Molly hopes the mural will bring tranquility to patients at an uncertain time, reminding us how the cycles of nature teach us resilience.

Design Plus’s vision for the XRANM’s Breast Health and Imaging Center is based on a Biophilic design approach which is proven to relieve anxiety for patients, aid in the healing process, and reduce stress levels for staff and increase productivity. “Our goal was to connect the built environment with the New Mexico landscape. As such these design elements are prominently and subtly embedded in the entire space via images, patterns, views, etc,” says Rupal Engineer, Founder of Design Plus. 

Molly’s goal was to bring familiar imagery of the Rio Grande Bosque into the diagnostic waiting area using environmentally sustainable materials. Her process for creating the mural began with frequent visits to the Bosque, photographing and drawing the river, cottonwood trees, native flora like grasses and chamisa bushes, and Sandhill cranes. She created digital color sketches, and then printed out her design to the exact scale of the panel, 4 x 10 feet. Collaborating with the local interior design team at Submaterial, she utilized their recycled offcuts of industrial wool felt in a variety of colors for the mural. Using scissors, and an industrial zigzag sewing machine, she cut out each individual piece by hand, and sewed them together to make the design. Submaterial then glued the mural on an acoustic sound softening panel, made of recycled plastic bottles, for the wall display. 

Throughout the entire process, from XRANM to Design Plus to Molly Zimmer, its nature-inspired design is made for patient’s physical and emotional wellbeing.  “This is a game changer,” says Dr. Brigid Gerety, Medical Director of XRANM’s Breast Health and Imaging Center. “Our ultra-modern facility will be the premier destination for breast care in New Mexico, integrating outpatient radiology, breast surgery and so much more, all in a warm, supportive environment.” - X-Ray Associates of New Mexico.