MIDB Partners with RxART to Transform MRI Suite into Calming, Beautiful Environment

The Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB) is the first Minnesota facility to partner with RxART to enhance its physical environment through visual art. RxART is a nonprofit organization that commissions established contemporary artists to transform children’s hospital settings into engaging and uplifting healing environments at no cost to the hospitals.

Artist Rashid Johnson developed the calming blue and white "Seascape" imagery that was recently installed in MIDB’s state-of-the-art imaging suite. With more than 1,000 scans completed each year, the suite is used for a variety of brain research and cutting edge translational applications for MRI.

“The goal of the space is to make the scanning environment as child-friendly as possible,” said Steven Nelson, PhD, MIDB’s Imaging Core director. “With the newly installed Seascape art, people have commented that it really brightens up the space, making it feel more welcoming and less sterile.” 

Like many of his art pieces, Johnson’s “Seascape” draws from historical narratives of migration and journeys. The repetition of the motif and their scale suggest the possibility to escape. 

“We are extremely proud to have partnered with RxART and superstar artist Rashid Johnson to outfit the MIDB’s imaging facilities to make them friendly and fun for folks at all developmental stages across the lifespan,” said Damien Fair, PA-C, PhD, the Redleaf Endowed Director for MIDB.

Since 2000, RxART has partnered with dozens of hospitals across the country to transform healing environments through visual art. RxART Founder and President Diane Brown says she was excited to collaborate with MIDB to help create a calming environment for kids and families. 

“MIDB is a dream collaborator and we are honored to be associated with their important research in advancing brain health from the earliest stages of development, and in reducing the anxiety children often feel when getting an MRI,” said Brown. “We are so proud to have contributed the RxART touch to their MRI suite.”