Generosity Brings 'SOLACE' to Family Garden

David Landis' sculptures, often monumental, metallic depictions of nature, such as leaves, birds, and other wildlife, appear throughout Atlanta and nationwide. From the Atlanta Beltline, to Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, to the Atlanta Botanical Garden, his works prompt curiosity, reflection, and peacefulness. And now, thanks to a generous donation from longtime Shepherd Center supporters Anna and Hays Mershon, Shepherd Center has a piece from Landis to call its own. 

Located in the Hazel Family Garden at the Arthur M. Blank Family Residences, SOLACE is a larger-than-life flower in bloom. With a mirror finish of stainless steel, the sculpture reflects its environment — blue skies, the new family residence, and the passersby who . 

“My goal with this piece, SOLACE, was to create something beautiful and captivating that would offer a moment of calm respite for the visitors of Shepherd Center,” Landis says. 

The design and construction of the sculpture took five months and culminated on the installation day in October. With help from the Shepherd Center facilities team, the sculpture was carefully installed in the garden. 

Later that week, the Mershons, Landis, and Shepherd staff and board members gathered in the garden for an intimate dedication ceremony, where Landis discussed his approach and presented the Mershons with a small gift — a model version of the sculpture they generously donated. 

The sculpture isn’t the only way the Mershons have left their mark on Shepherd Center. At the hospital’s annual Angel Luncheon in 2014, it was announced that the Secret Garden, located discretely between the hospital building and Peachtree Road, would be renamed the Anna and Hays Mershon Secret Garden to recognize their generous and committed support to the hospital. 

“We have long been inspired by experiencing how Shepherd Center has restored the lives of patients and their families, and we know how instrumental Shepherd’s gardens have been to the care provided,” the Mershons shared. “As garden lovers ourselves, we are honored to support two of these gardens, the Secret Garden and the new Hazel Family Garden. We know that David Landis’s brilliant work will, indeed, bring SOLACE to generations of Shepherd patients and their families.” 

A special thank you to the Mershons, for their ongoing support of patients and their families, and to Landis, for designing the beautiful sculpture. 

Written by Erin Kenney