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| Artist’s Work Beautifies hospital |
Rona Fowler hopes paintings will brighten hopes of Sutton’s patients The Hal Sutton Children’s Hospital recently received many new additions, but they weren’t patients. They were paintings. Artist Rona Fowler wanted to give the art “For my paintings to make an abused, sick, or forgotten child smile, that would be my gift from God,” Fowler said. “I want the paintings to lift up their spirits and make them feel safe.” Fowler still finds it hard to realize that people are referring to her when they talk about an artist. However, after a brief look at the 74-year-old’s collection of work, it is hard to believe she’s been painting for only 14 years. Fowler began painting when she moved back to Shreveport in the early 1990’s and began raising her granddaughter, Amelia. Her art was inspired by Amelia and their relationship, and it still can be found within the relationships of many of her subjects. Fowler’s style comes from a variety of influences and interests. A mixture of Biblical, African, and primitive American influences dominate most of her pieces; however, other pieces are more objective realistic and filled with symbolism. Others capture animals depicted with compassionate human characteristics and their subjects are surrounded in an almost fairytale-like environment. One thing her pieces all have in common—they are filled with vibrant colors that create an intensity in all her artwork. A common theme in all the paintings donated to the center is safety. Fowler felt it was one of the most important things to let her granddaughter know after they began to live together. While her influences guide how she paints, Fowler said what she paints comes from her relationship with Amelia and her heroes within the city who stand up against the maltreatment of children. She listed several men in the local community she sees as playing a role in helping end child abuse, such as professional golfer Hal Sutton, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator, and District Judge Ford Stinson. “These heroes are real men who are standing up for our babies,” she said. Sister Sharon Ramblin, special projects administrator at the hospital, said Fowler’s contribution to the center is an example of how the rest of the hospital was developed. “Sutton Children’s has come together through a sharing of gifts from the local community,” she said. “Many of these gifts have been God-given and Mrs. Fowler’s talent is an example of this. Her wonderful imagination and creativity bring smiles to everyone. We are so fortunate to have her for sharing it with our children.” Though the paintings are well-received at their new home, it was serendipity that brought them to the hospital. Fowler wanted to donate some of her paintings when she first heard about it being built, but she had not been able to reach someone who could give her an answer on how to donate. That was until one day she bumped into Hal Sutton’s wife, Ashley, at Robert Baillio’s studio. “I was preparing for a show and had a large portion of my work being worked on by Robert,” Fowler said. Ashley Sutton came into the studio to have another piece of artwork framed and saw Fowler’s work. “I instantly fell in love with one of the animals and I thought, ‘We need to have this painting at the center,’” she said. “So I asked Robert who the artist was and he told me she was standing right there. It was a God moment.” Fowler has an art gallery at the Multicultural Center of the South in downtown Shreveport, a place that Fowler describes as “a secret in Shreveport that should be revealed.” Her work is at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge. She made a recent showing at the Prudhomme Plantation in the Natchitoches area. Her artwork can also be found on the Web at www.ronafowlerart.com. |
work to the hospital so they might brighten the hopes of the children there.
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