Artist Jim Draper Unveils "Ribbon of Life" Series at Baptist Heart Hospital

Jacksonville, Florida, September 21, 2006 -- Artist Jim Draper unveiled the "Ribbon of Life" series at Baptist Heart Hospital on September 21.

The series is Draper's visual pilgrimage through the natural beauty of Northeast Florida, as depicted in 22 paintings lining the corridor that connects the Heart Hospital's Harden Cardiovascular Center with the Baptist Medical Center Downtown rotunda.

The paintings are a farewell gift from Carol Thompson, former executive vice president of Baptist Health and president of Baptist Health Foundation, given upon her retirement in March 2006, in tribute to caregivers and patients of Baptist Health. Draper donated a portion of his artwork.

Thompson explains, "I wanted to leave behind something that would be enjoyed by everyone, as well as serve as a reminder of the beauty of our region. Jim Draper's art seemed perfect, for it has always connected me with nature in ways that are easy to forget unless I am paying attention. It's my hope that his creation for Baptist will give everyone who views it the same sense that I have, perhaps causing a moment of reflection about the important things in life. "

Thompson is not alone in her appraisal of Draper's art, which is the subject of more than 50 one-man shows and found in 100-plus private collections throughout the world. Admirers often express feeling a powerful connection to nature when viewing his canvases.

In the mid '70s, Draper studied with Elaine de Kooning, an influential abstract expressionist painter whose emphasis on the importance of assembling a body of work with serial imagery is evidenced throughout his career. He explains, "Once you've settled on the content and general composition within a format, it releases you to explore the pleasure of painting, to really jump into the process. You're free to play with color, texture and surface -- and all of us who came out of abstract expressionism are mainly interested in surface."

Today, Draper's canvases are a reflection of that training and a strong personal bond with nature, the land and seascapes of Florida serving as his inspiration. When he began working on the piece, he led a group Baptist Health employees on a three-mile walk through the slice of Little Talbot Island State Park that would serve as the "framework" for the project's progression. The trek through the woods and onto the beach gave him the opportunity to talk with caregivers from Baptist Health, while affording them an understanding of his vision.

Draper, who donated a portion of his art, says, "Nature is filled with lessons. Everything about it speaks of resiliency and, although it isn't always apparent, order. It's ability to sustain the most violent events and bounce back is astonishing. It's a miracle to be experienced daily.

"I hope that when patients, families or caregivers walk down the corridor, the ribbon of paintings will serve as a respite from whatever fear, sadness or exhaustion they might be feeling. That they will be lifted out of the building and into the healing energy of nature, even if only for a short time."

To purchase prints or notecards, visit Baptist Health Foundation or call Draper Studios at 904.598.9998.