Mercy names design contest winners for Donor Memorial Wall

Mercy Medical Center has selected a design submitted by two local artists for its new organ and tissue donation memorial to be permanently displayed on a wall in Mercy Medical Center’s Lundy Pavilion.

The artists chosen to complete the memorial wall are Lisa Lindley and Suzy McGrane-Hop.  Lindley is a designer with Lisa Lindley Interior Architecture and McGrane-Hop is a certified fine art appraiser with Gilded Pear Gallery, both in Cedar Rapids.

The memorial wall is intended to raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation and will serve as a place where family and friends of those who donate may find comfort and a place for reflection.

Lindley and McGrane-Hop submitted a design concept that incorporates a swarm of butterflies lifting into flight.  The butterflies will be handmade of ceramic material with organ donor names imprinted on the body of the butterflies. The artists will begin working on the wall immediately, with completion and unveiling scheduled for April, which is National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month.

“We knew we had a wealth of artistic expertise here in our community and we are excited about working with two local artists on this important project,” said Vicki Cirkl, director of patient relations and chair of Mercy’s organ donation committee.  “The design created by Lisa and Suzy will live for years to come to remember and celebrate those who provide the greatest gift: the gift of life or sight to someone else.”

Lindley and McGrane-Hop receive a $500 cash prize for their winning design entry. The memorial wall project is funded by a grant from the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Currently, there are approximately 600 individuals in Iowa on the waiting list for organ donations and more than 127,000 people registered as organ donors through the Iowa Donor Network.  Together with the community, Mercy is hoping to increase the number of people registered in Linn County.