Sanderson Tower’s Mississippi mosaic made from thousands of drawings
Published on Monday, June 6, 2022
By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu
Finding drawings of anime characters in the Project S.N.A.P. mosaic in the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower had Aiden Robinson more excited than finding his own works of art.
“I see Naruto,” the 11-year-old said, spotting a character from the ninja anime show of the same name.
Aiden and his mom Kristel Robinson of Brandon were poring over the mosaic located on Level B of the Sanderson Tower, near outpatient clinics and pediatric imaging.
Scenes showing beloved Mississippi landmarks – from the crossroads of the Mississippi Delta to the Biloxi lighthouse – were created from thousands of individual drawings through Project S.N.A.P., a nonprofit that helps groups create mosaics from artwork from stakeholders and supporters.
“This is better than I even imagined,” Kristel Robinson exclaimed. “We’re so happy that our drawings are a part of the Sanderson Tower art.”
Robinson and Aiden take a closer look at the individual drawings that make up the Mississippi Mural inside the Sanderson Tower.
Started with stacks of paper and colorful markers during the construction of the Sanderson Tower, the project had patients and their families, philanthropists, schoolchildren and Children’s of Mississippi employees creating drawings.
Along with Naruto, there were drawings of hearts and rainbows, families, pets and messages of hope. Thousands of different drawings have come together as one mosaic mural. Visitors and employees have enjoyed taking steps backward to take in the whole mosaic and stepping closer to see the details of each postage-stamp-sized drawing.
Aiden's drawing shares his love of the state's only children's hospital and its Batson Tower, named for the first pediatrics chair at UMMC, Dr. Blair E. Batson.
Beside the mosaic is a kiosk where art lovers can type in their names and find the location of their drawings. Aiden’s creation included the message “Batson = love,” referring to Children’s of Mississippi’s Batson Tower that includes inpatient rooms. “Batson = love to me because everyone at Batson loves me and made me better,” is the message he wrote to go with his art.
Aiden, born with Saggital and Neurofibromatosis 1, had his first surgery at just six weeks old to correct the condition. The genetic condition is characterized by benign tumors of the nerves and skin and can cause nodules on the colored area of the eyes or tumors on the optic nerves, so Aiden is monitored for those.
“We’ve been with Children’s of Mississippi since Aiden was 10 weeks old,” his mother said. “Children’s has made it possible for Aiden to grow up.”
The Robinsons have been faithful volunteers for Children’s of Mississippi, volunteering during 10 Mississippi Miracles Radiothons.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with our Project S.N.A.P. mural,” said Jen Hospodor, director of community development, annual giving and alumni engagement at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “Each individual drawing is unique and conveys a connection to the state’s only children’s hospital.”
Ryan Mains, a development liaison at the Medical Center, was among those reaching out to the community through drawing sessions with schools and groups.