The Griffin Hospital Imaging & Diagnostics Center at Ivy Brook has unveiled “Carnival of the World,” an interactive mural painted by Vladimir Shpitalnik and commissioned in honor of Griffin Hospital’s 100th Anniversary.
The new pediatric mural is the latest innovation in Griffin’s long-time commitment to creating physical environments that enhance healing, health and well-being.
“Carnival of the World” incorporates intricate images and details that form the basis of an interactive game that families may play as they or their children wait for treatment. Like the popular “I Spy” or “Where’s Waldo” children’s books, the painting may be studied to uncover a wide array of hidden treasures, thereby distracting and entertaining young patients as they wait for treatment.
Shpitalnik’s work depicts a community at play and features characters from around the world dwelling amidst iconic international buildings. “Carnival” differs from traditional murals because it creates an entire imaginative world where creatures and characters are intentionally hidden from the viewer.
Griffin Hospital is an international leader in creating healing environments to comfort patients and families. The hospital’s new Diagnostic & Imaging Center in Shelton, its main hospital campus, and its Hewitt Ambulatory Care Pavilion and Center for Cancer Care in Derby are all designed around the Planetree model of care, which is a patient-centered, holistic approach to healthcare, promoting mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and physical healing.
“Carnival of the World” was commissioned to help soothe and uplift young patients and their parents throughout their healthcare experience through arts and entertainment, one of the cornerstone components of Planetree.
In addition to promoting the use of arts and entertainment, Griffin’s Planetree philosophy of care empowers patients and families through the exchange of information and encourages healing partnerships with caregivers. It seeks to maximize positive healthcare outcomes by integrating optimal medical therapies and incorporating art and nature into the healing environment.
