Big Island Wildlife Area, Marion County, Ohio

Date: 2011
Materials: Digital photograph, Epson Ultrachrome Premium Luster print, 20” x 30”
Location at Summa Health: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), Gold Neighborhood, Ground Floor near "E" Elevators

Acquired as part of the Summa Health System — Akron Campus Wayfinding Project, this artwork enhances the healing environment by connecting patients, visitors, and caregivers to the beauty of Ohio’s natural landscapes.

About the Art

The Big Island Wildlife Area, located five miles west of Marion, Ohio, is the state’s largest wetland prairie. This vital habitat welcomes migratory waterfowl and songbirds each spring and fall, drawing birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike. Capturing this serene landscape, Ian Adams’ photograph reflects the seasonal transformation of the marsh, where winter sunlight turns tall grasses into golden waves.

Taken just after sunrise, the image highlights the interplay of light, texture, and color. Layers of horizontal bands—from sunlit grasses to deep blue marsh waters—draw the eye into the scene, leading to the distant tree line and the soft winter sky. Adams’ subtle digital enhancements enrich the natural hues, enhancing contrast and highlighting the delicate details of the foreground. This composition offers viewers both a sweeping, tranquil vista and a close-up appreciation of the intricate beauty found in nature’s design.

This work, like all in Adams’ collection, serves as a visual reminder of Ohio’s rich and diverse landscapes, inviting reflection, relaxation, and a renewed connection to the world outside.

Birch Allée, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron, Ohio

Date: 1999
Materials: Film photograph, Epson Ultrachrome Premium Luster Print, 20” x 30”
Location: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus, Gold Neighborhood, Ground Floor near "E" Elevators

Acquired for the Summa Health System — Akron Campus Wayfinding Project, this piece fosters a sense of tranquility and reflection.

About the Art

This photograph captures the breathtaking Birch Allée at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, a 550-foot-long grand pathway lined with over 100 white birches. Planted more than a century ago under the direction of landscape architect Warren Manning, the trees form a striking canopy, particularly in autumn when golden leaves create a luminous tunnel of color.

Ian Adams’ composition masterfully balances structure and movement. The pathway’s perspective draws the eye toward the distance, while the graceful, leaning birches add rhythm and contrast. First published in Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens (University of Akron Press, 2000), this image embodies the harmony between nature and design, inviting viewers to pause and appreciate the beauty of the world around them.

Chair Factory Falls, Lake County, OH, 1990

Materials: digital photograph printed on canvas, wrapped, 30" x 30"

Location at Summa: Barberton Joint Center of Excellence, Nursing Station

About the Artwork:

Ian Adams has long explored waterfalls as a subject, creating a gallery of images that capture the thrill and power of water cascading through space. In Chair Factory Falls, Adams’ choice of viewpoint elevates the natural energy of the falls. Positioned at an angle, he reveals multiple dynamics in the water’s descent, as it flows from one zigzagging path into another—underscoring the inherent vitality in diagonal compositions.

The perspective is key: Adams does not approach the falls head-on, but rather at a subtle angle, creating a sense of movement and depth. The composition leads the eye from left to right, with the stream flowing in the opposite direction, suggesting a harmony of opposing forces. Deep in the background, the trees that mark the origin of the stream emphasize the contrast between the natural and the flowing elements of the scene.

Other factors, such as Adams’ elevation above the falls, the light at the chosen time of day, and seasonal characteristics like ice or snow, infuse the image with a heightened sense of energy. The artist’s ability to capture the perfect moment—whether through a series of attempts or careful planning—brings together a scene that feels both dynamic and controlled.

A subtle detail in the foreground further enriches the narrative: a few bright fallen leaves, hinting at the fleeting nature of the season. Despite the rich golden hues of autumn, the trees in the distance are small and distant in Adams' framing, allowing the viewer to sense that this moment is already past. The leaves signal the inevitable shift toward winter, reminding us that time is always in motion, even when the water seems to freeze in time.

The title, Chair Factory Falls, references the site’s history as a former chair factory, now long burned down. This piece exemplifies Adams’ practice of capturing his images with a large-format view camera and transparent film, later digitizing the photograph and printing it onto canvas, blending the traditional with the contemporary.

This work, found in the Barberton Joint Center of Excellence, invites viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with the natural world, all while contemplating the passage of time and the subtleties embedded within each scene.

Japanese Maples, Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, OH, 2015
Materials and Dimensions: Matte print on Epson Exhibition Canvas, 36” x 55”
Location: Summa Health, Juve Family Behavioral Health Pavilion

About the Artwork:

Ian Adams' work is well-known across northeastern Ohio, including here at Summa, where his images of Ohio's landscapes and natural beauty bring a sense of calm and reflection. Japanese Maples is a striking example, capturing an autumnal moment at Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland’s historic "garden cemetery." Founded in 1869, the cemetery’s carefully designed plantings, architecture, and sculptures create a space for contemplation and solemnity.

Adams’ high vantage point among the Japanese maples brings their sinuous trunks and vibrant, layered colors into focus. The interlacing branches and the calligraphic nature of the forms draw the viewer in, creating a sense of depth and movement. The photo transcends the typical “Fall Color” image, instead offering an abstract and subtle exploration of shape, light, and nature’s quiet beauty.

This piece, printed on canvas designed to mimic the luster of oil paintings, reflects Adams’ unique ability to capture the essence of Ohio’s landscape in a way that resonates deeply with those who encounter it.

Sacred Lotus, Cleveland Botanical Garden (September 1999)

Materials: Digital photograph printed on canvas, wrapped, 30" x 30"

Location: Summa Health, Barberton Joint Center of Excellence, outside the Family Lounge

About the Artwork:

Ian Adams’ photographs are a familiar presence across Summa Health, from patient rooms to the Wayfinding system on the Akron campus, and now at the Barberton campus.

This particular piece offers a close-up view of a blooming Sacred Lotus (Nelumba nucifera) at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. With its lush, curled petals, surrounding seed pod, and leaves, the image captures a striking duality of nature, as the lotus floats atop the water while remaining rooted to the earth below. Known for its symbolic significance in both Hinduism and Buddhism, the Sacred Lotus is a perfect subject for Adams, whose work often highlights the natural beauty of Ohio landscapes.

The use of a large-format camera intensifies the vivid colors, textures, and light contrasts, drawing the viewer into the richness of the scene. Adams then digitizes the analogue film and prints it on canvas, wrapping it around the frame to eliminate boundaries and invite a deeper immersion in the image.

This piece, displayed outside the Family Lounge, brings the viewer closer to the tranquil beauty of nature, offering a moment of reflection and connection.

Bole Overlook, Holden Arboretum, Ohio
Date: 2017 and 2019
Materials: Color digital photograph, printed on Willow Glass
Location: Summa Health, Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), blue neighborhood, NICU patient rooms (2nd floor), patient rooms (4th and 6th floors)

About the Artwork:

Bole Overlook captures the serene beauty of spring at Holden Arboretum, where the forest begins to emerge in early greens. From a high vantage point, the image stretches horizontally, showcasing the contrast between deep green conifers and the intricate framework of bare tree trunks and limbs. The gentle undulation of the horizon reveals the glacial landscape, while treetops trace the contours of nearby hills.

In the foreground, a lone white stem—a possible serviceberry—rises through a tangle of branches, symbolizing the arrival of the new season. This subtle detail may have drawn the photographer to the scene, adding a punctuation mark to the landscape’s quiet beauty.

This photograph was specially selected for the Summa Health Akron campus, not only for its calming and meditative qualities but also for its durability in the healthcare environment. Printed on Willow Glass, a thin, hard material that can be thoroughly cleaned without damaging the image, this piece brings nature’s tranquility into patient rooms, fostering a healing atmosphere. The two dates reflect the original photo and the resizing for the specific proportions of the space.

Fall Foliage at Triangle Lake State Nature Preserve, Portage County, Ohio
Date: 2003 and 2019
Materials: Color digital photograph, printed on Willow Glass
Location: Summa Health, Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), blue neighborhood, NICU patient rooms (2nd floor), patient rooms (4th and 6th floors)

About the Artwork:

This photograph from Triangle Lake State Nature Preserve captures the beauty of autumn through the interplay of reflections. The top half of the image showcases the soft pastel hues of the deciduous trees, while the lower half reveals their vivid, mirrored colors in the still waters of a boggy pond. A band of deep purple-scarlet shrubbery—possibly sumac—separates the two, offering the eye a moment of rest and enhancing the reflectivity of the dark water, framed by orange grasses and green plants at the water’s edge.

Adams invites the viewer to match the living forest with its reflection, using an unbroken vertical tree trunk as a touchstone to guide the gaze. This careful composition brings attention to the calming symmetry of nature, making it a fitting addition to patient rooms.

Printed on Willow Glass, a thin, durable material designed for healthcare environments, this image combines artistic beauty with practical functionality. The two dates reflect the original photo and the resizing to fit the proportions of the space.

Salt Fork State Park, Guernsey County, Ohio
Date: 2009
Materials: Digital photograph, Epson Ultrachrome Premium Luster print, 20” x 30”
Location: Summa Health, Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), gold neighborhood, ground floor near "E" elevators

About the Artwork:

Captured in late fall at Ohio’s largest state park, Salt Fork State Park, this photograph immerses viewers in the golden glow of oak and hickory foliage. The tranquil scene showcases a classic reflection of land on water, anchored by a rocky spit in the lower left foreground. A narrow band of haze near the far edge of the water adds depth and complexity, drawing the viewer further into the image as it recedes. The contrast between the clear blue sky and the deeper shades of blue in the lake enhances the striking color play, while the evergreen tree, mirrored in the water, offers an elegant profile on the left.

The early morning light, with the sun low on the horizon, adds drama and highlights the textures of the scene, creating a hyper-real effect that the human eye alone could not capture in a single glance. Through meticulous post-processing, Adams combines multiple exposures to achieve this detailed balance of light, shadow, and color, showcasing his control over every aspect of the image.

Salt Fork State Park, located east of Cambridge, Ohio, offers 17,229 acres of natural beauty and a rich history, including Hosak’s Cave, where Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his troops sheltered during the Civil War.

Sunflowers, Portage County, Ohio
Date: 1999
Materials: Film photograph, digitally printed on vinyl wall covering
Location: Summa Health, Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), gold neighborhood, ground floor near "E" elevators

About the Artwork:

Captured in late summer in Portage County, Sunflowers immerses viewers in a vibrant field at the height of bloom. With most flowers in full, radiant bloom and a few stragglers still waiting to open, Adams’s slightly elevated viewpoint creates a sense of being surrounded by these towering, big-headed plants. By eliminating the horizon, the image enhances the feeling of being enveloped in the sunflower field, inviting a connection to the natural world.

Printed on vinyl for display at Summa Health, the scale and location along a busy walkway deepen this immersive effect. At street level, the sunflowers appear like a crowd of onlookers, all facing the same direction—much like pedestrians on a busy street.

The Italian name for sunflower, girasole, means “turn to the sun,” a nod to the heliotropic nature of sunflowers, which turn their faces toward the sun. In this photograph, the sunflowers’ large, dark centers surrounded by yellow petals follow the same pattern, creating a powerful, almost human-like presence as they "watch" passersby.

In the digital transformation of this film photograph, Adams adjusted brightness and color saturation to maintain the integrity of the original, ensuring the full range of light and color would be accurately represented in the large-scale print.

Sunflowers are native to North America and were an important food source for Native Americans. Introduced to Europe by the Spanish in the 15th century, sunflowers eventually became widely cultivated for their seeds, a practice that continues today.

Sunrise, The Wilds, Muskingum County, Ohio

Date: 1999
Materials: Color digital photograph, printed on Willow Glass
Location: Summa Health, Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), blue neighborhood, NICU patient rooms on the 2nd floor, patient rooms on the 4th and 6th floors

About the Artwork:

This serene landscape captures the quiet beauty of morning, as mist recedes to reveal rolling hills bathed in warm yellow and gold hues. Adams’s composition layers trees and foliage that gently follow the curves of the land, while distant, sharper peaks stand out in contrast. In the middle right, a cleared hill with a faint trace of a wire fence hints at human presence, subtly interrupting the natural flow of the scene.

The landscape invites a contemplative journey, with the details of the forests’ outlines leading the eye toward the horizon. This echoes the style of medieval Chinese ink paintings, where expansive vistas were unwound on silk scrolls, creating an immersive experience that encouraged meditation and reflection.

Printed on Willow Glass for durability and ease of cleaning in patient rooms, this piece is part of the Summa Health System's selection of calming artworks. The choice of material ensures that the artwork remains vibrant and intact, even in a healthcare environment where hygiene is essential. The image's two dates reflect both its original capture and its resizing for display in these rooms.

Tinker’s Creek Scenic Overlook, Bedford Reservation, Cleveland Metroparks

Date: 2008
Materials: Digital photograph, Epson Ultrachrome Premium Luster print, 20” x 30”
Location: Summa Health, Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), gold neighborhood, ground floor near "E" elevators

About the Artwork:

Captured in the early morning, this image depicts the late fall mist clinging to the hillsides above Tinker’s Creek Gorge at Bedford Reservation, part of Cleveland Metro parks. Just twelve miles from downtown Cleveland, Tinker’s Creek—named after Moses Cleaveland’s surveyor—winds its way through the gorge, offering dramatic views of nature in transition.

The photograph highlights Adams's signature high viewpoint, allowing us to appreciate the layers of mist that envelop the landscape. The subtle effects of aerial perspective, where distant features fade into a soft blur, are accentuated by the moisture-filled morning air, giving the scene an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality.

The contrast between the sunlit western banks, glowing with the vibrant hues of autumn, and the misty, shadowed eastern banks creates a rich, visual tension. A solitary tree, its branches stark against the fog, adds a poignant focal point in the foreground. Adams’s careful digital adjustments enhance the tonality and contrast, allowing the fog to become the centerpiece, with sunlight and shadow creating a stage-like effect that recedes into the distance.

This work, acquired for the Summa Health System — Akron Campus Wayfinding Project, brings the understated drama of Ohio’s landscapes into the hospital setting, offering a peaceful, meditative atmosphere to all who experience it.