Arts & Entertainment

Sculpture Embraces Medical Center's Ideals

Loma Linda University Medical Center, unveils a new sculpture at affiliated Highland Medical Plaza.

In the rotunda of the Highland Springs Medical Plaza, a family made of stone stands in a perpetual embrace.

They represent wholeness, said Liz Dickinson, administrative liaison for the medical plaza and senior vice president, patient care services at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

The stone family is depicted in a sculpture titled Ukama. Commissioned by the Loma Linda medical center, the piece was created by artist Stanford Shanakira, a member of Zimbawe’s Shona people.

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The figures of a father, mother and three children embracing were carved into a large stone pulled from mountains that surround the Shona village.

“We decided this would be great to have,” Dickinson said. “Not only is the art beautiful, but the money goes back to the village.”

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Dickinson did not disclose how much the sculpture cost, but did say it was an expensive piece. It is a one-of-a-kind piece, she said.

“The Shona people do a lot of sculptures of animals,” she said. “Most of the time, the sculptures of people are miniatures.”

This piece, however, weighs 1,700 pounds and stands 9 1/2 from top to pedestal.

It took two years, from discussions to completion, for the sculpture to reach Southern California, Dickinson said. The journey took the artwork to several different ports, through the Panama Canal to San Francisco, from where it made its way to Southern California, where the fragile piece was finally sets in its new home.

An unveiling took place at the medical plaza on Jan. 13

In attendance was Dr. Gerald Winslow, vice president for mission and culture at LLUMC, had the Shona sculpture created specifically for the new medical plaza, according to mecial center officials.

“We have strong ties to many places in the world, and this piece portrays hope, wholeness and community and signals how connected we are to a worldwide community,” Winslow said in a written statement.

Highland Springs Medical Plaza is at 81 S. Highland Springs Ave., Beaumont. The 90,000 square foot facility was created through a collaboration between Loma Linda University Medical Center, Redlands Community Hospital and Beaver Medical Group to enhance access to medical services for families in the Inland Empire and surrounding areas, according to the university’s website.


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