OVERVIEW

Many Hands, Light Work is a permanent tile mural on the exterior wall of the James W. Colbert Education Center and Library at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), commissioned by a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) and managed by the MUSC Arts in Healing program. The mural’s rammed earth tiles, fabricated by Earthbuilt, recall the sandy Low Country landscape and serve as a backdrop for portraits of hands. Installed at the library entrance, with a direct view of the Emergency Department, the work celebrates MUSC students past and present while honoring the institution’s culture of care.

OBJECTIVES

• Celebrate the role of students across MUSC’s diverse departments.

• Create a durable, sustainable mural that reflects the Low Country landscape and can withstand future coastal storms.

• Use hand imagery to symbolize relationships of giving and receiving care.

PROCESS

• Design Development: Emily developed a concept centered on hands, reflecting the human connections at the heart of healthcare.

• Material Selection: Rammed earth was chosen for its strength, durability, and resemblance to the sandy soils of the Low Country. The artist considered climate resilience from the outset, selecting a medium suited to future hurricanes and coastal conditions.

• Personal Context: During the project’s development, Tropical Storm Helene struck Western North Carolina, personally impacting the artist. This experience deepened the mural’s focus on care, resilience, and connection in times of uncertainty.

• Fabrication: Earthbuilt, a subcontractor specializing in rammed earth, fabricated the tiles, bringing sustainable construction techniques into a healthcare campus setting.

• Installation: The mural was mounted on the Colbert Library’s exterior wall, at a crossroads of student life and clinical care.

OUTCOMES

Cultural & Symbolic Impact

• Serves as a daily landmark and point of reflection for students and staff.

• Reinforces MUSC’s commitment to empathy, collaboration, and holistic care.

• Connects academic learning to patient care through shared imagery of service.

Sustainability & Innovation

• Demonstrates how public art can integrate environmental materials and climate-resilient design within a medical campus.

• Introduces sustainable construction techniques (rammed earth) to institutional art contexts.

Resilience & Connection

• Mirrors both collective and personal resilience, bridging natural and human recovery narratives.

• Aligns with MUSC’s “Arts in Healing” mission—placing art at the intersection of education, community, and wellbeing.