This sculpture, donated by BB&T, is the latest installation of several community funded works of art at the center. It was commissioned to create a piece that would embody hope, comfort, reassurance, familiarity and a bit of whimsy, as well as “evoking the magical curiosity of childhood.”

Bora won a sculpture competition in April of this year to create the main sculpture for the Outpatient Center, which is part of Mission Children’s Hospital.. The larger-than-life-size sculpture group titled “On the Mend!” consists of ten distinct figures. It incorporates local themes – such as animals of the mountains, including a bear, fox, rabbit, a cat and dog – all engaged in an animated game of ball with three children.

Some of the figures – both human and animal – can be seen in various forms of healing. A bandaged paw, a boy on crutches, a cast-covered arm all contribute to the notion of living, healing dynamism and joyous vibrancy…even in the face of certain (or uncertain) obstacles. “Children can identify with this art,” says Linda Poss, Outreach Programs Manager, “there is a focus on what our children need in healthcare. It is also designed to be fun.”

The Reuter Children’s outpatient center was designed with the child and family at its center. “The child-centered approach is reflected in the art work,” says Lou Hammond, Vice President for the Mission Children’s Hospital. “we are literally on the edge of the forest and the idea is to bring those wonders of nature closer to the children we reach.” The theme of the child and nature is prominent in the artwork at the center, which highlights the indigenous plants and animals of Western North Carolina.”

The center’s other artworks include an audio-kinetic sculpture named "Lalaballoopa" by George Rhoads of Ithaca, NY and donated by Nancy and George Cecil; stained glass by local artist Steven Powell; large photos by local photographer Henry Domke; and in-ground chimes, a musical piece of art made in Germany and donated by the Mothers on a Mission (MOMs) group.

“When you move from a primary care physician to a sub-specialist, you are dealing with serious medicine,” says Linda Poss, “We provide services for many kids with special needs, and families here will face new diagnoses. This is a place of discovery for the child. The artwork is designed to be a part of the process, and to be fun.”

About the artist and his work

Unlimited in his ability to create in almost any media, Master Sculptor and painter Vadim Bora has made Asheville, NC home since 1993. Originally from the republic of North Ossetia in Russia's Caucasus Mountains, Bora creates work that reflects the high standards found in classical European techniques and traditions, enhanced by contemporary American ingenuity and inspiration.

Vadim Bora was awarded the coveted status of “Person with Extraordinary Abilities” by the U.S. Government and granted permanent residency in the United States based on the artistic merit of his work.

He has been an active member of the Asheville arts community as an artist, teacher, and gallery owner, while at the same time exhibiting his works in other states and abroad.

A graduate of the College of Art in Vladikavkaz, Russia, Bora continued his studies at the renowned St. Petersburg Academy of Art and later became the youngest member (at that time) of the Professional Artists Union of Russia. In North Carolina, Bora has created three public sculptures in the city of Asheville. In 2001 the artist was commissioned by the Asheville VA Medical Center to create the Veterans Memorial Sculpture to christen the new ambulatory wing of the center. Small models of “The Wings of Freedom” were created to present to visiting dignitaries, including Senator Bob Dole and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi.

Other regional public sculpture commissions include “Cat Walk,” a trio of three bronze cats, on the Asheville Urban Trail, and a near-life-size Crucifix at St. Mary’s Episcopal Parish on the road to the historic Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Further public sculpture commissions have taken Bora to Atlanta, St. Louis, and Moscow.

Museums retaining Vadim Bora’s paintings and sculptures in their permanent collections are: the Ministry of Culture Collection, Moscow, Russia; North Ossetia Museum of Art, Vladikavkaz, Russia; the Spartanburg Museum of Art, Spartanburg, SC; and the Anderson Arts Center, Anderson, SC.

Corporate collections include: the BBC, London, England; The Financial Times, London, England. Other public and private commissions by the artist are located in: NC, SC, GA, MO, IN, CO, CA, Washington, DC, Moscow, Russia; Berlin, Germany; Amsterdam, Holland, among other places around the U.S. and abroad.

Additionally, Bora is a listed artist in “Who’s Who in American Art” based on the artistic merit of his work.

(Image and story provided by Mission Hospital.)

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