ROCKPORT — The sight of art and nature together can be an incredibly therapeutic experience. Amidst the trees, flowers, animals and scenic views of Penobscot Bay, Pen Bay Medical Center has infused nature with 11 oval-shaped pendants along its 1.5-mile Wellness Trail. Each pendant was created by local artists Peter Walls and Allegra Kuhn and stand 3-feet wide by 4-feet high mounted on 12-foot poles, meant to draw attention to the allure of the surrounding landscape to help enhance a healing environment.

“We both come from a sculpture background and what we created brought us back to our roots, taking our art off the walls and into the forest,” said Walls, in a PBMC news release. “Creating this ‘jewelry’ for the forest focuses one’s attention to how special these preserved lands, flora and fauna are. We hope that the pendants open your eyes to seeing the forest differently and celebrate it for how special and beautiful it is.”

Walls and Kuhn recently had 12 of their pendants installed at Stover Preserve in Belfast and now bring their works to Knox County. Walls said the inspiration for the art came from both artists experiencing the processes of nature while exploring the Pen Bay trail over several months.

“We are very excited to bring this new art to our campus,” said Ellie Willmann, vice president of Philanthropy for Pen Bay and Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast. “These pendants reflect the hospitals’ commitment to showcasing local artists not only inside its walls, but now outside, to connect care team members, patients and visitors with the warmth and tranquility of nature.”

The Pen Bay Wellness Trail is open to all community members and runs along the perimeter of the Pen Bay grounds, with views of the forest, ocean and hospital. For more information about the trail, visit mainehealth.org/pen-bay-medical-center/community-health.

Pen Bay Medical Center

Pen Bay Medical Center is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system consisting of nine local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,600 employed and independent physicians working together through an Accountable Care Organization. With more than 19,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. For more information, please visit pbmc.org.