The Kresge Eye Institute (KEI) will celebrate the unveiling of a new mosaic art mural in its third floor pediatric waiting room at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6. 

The installation, “Rainbow Man,” is a visually striking 13 feet by 7 feet and is made of more than 1,000 hand-sculpted clay pieces. The installation features three-dimensional details that provide low-vision or visually impaired children and adults an opportunity to experience art by touch. One section also features a Helen Keller quote in Braille type.

“Kresge Eye Institute is more than just the home of excellent eye care,” says Mark Juzych, director of KEI and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. “Our physicians and staff understand that patients are not just appointments; each is a unique individual with special needs and deserves our best from the moment they come in. We now have a unique space where visually impaired young people can use their sense of touch to interact with a work of art in an installation made especially for them. It’s a good example of the way we at Kresge care for the whole person.”

The mural was created by Royal Oak artist Laurie Eisenhardt with funding from the Sara Williams Parish Foundation. The project was completed with volunteers from Art & Soul, a mission of Birmingham First United Methodist Church in cooperation with the Networking, Organizing and Advocating for the Homeless program at Detroit’s Central United Methodist Church. Art & Soul is designed to inspire pride and purpose in the homeless through self-expressive art. Many Art & Soul members are also patients at Kresge.

The pediatric waiting area where the mural will be installed is called “Christopher’s Corner” to honor a former patient, Christopher Kight, who lost sight in one eye as a result of an injury as an infant. Christopher is now 11 and lives in Canton with his family.

The Kresge Eye Institute is at 4717 St. Antoine St. in Detroit. For more information, visit http://www.kresgeeye.org.