Unexpected Beauty

Materials: Digital color photograph, printed on Willow Glass.

Location at Summa Health: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower on the Akron Campus (141 North Forge St.), blue neighborhood; various patient rooms on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th floors.

In Unexpected Beauty, Rob Blair invites viewers into the tranquil embrace of nature. A woodland path leads us to a wooden footbridge, evoking the sensation of a quiet walk in early autumn. As we venture further into the scene, a young deer, startled by our presence, steps away from the water’s edge, its ears alert. Blair skillfully enhances this feeling of immersion by casting the grasses and trees in the right foreground in shadow, drawing us toward the brightly lit pond or stream that stretches into the middle ground. The yearling stands poised against the reflective water, the composition alive with subtle warmth.

The title reflects the artist’s reverence for wildlife, and this is evident in his use of color. Brilliant orange accents in the foreground and soft red hues above the water enrich the scene, harmonizing with the natural landscape. The dominance of horizontal lines and gentle diagonals, paired with a muted color palette, creates a meditative and calming atmosphere, inviting contemplation.

This image, printed on Willow Glass, is specially selected for its ability to blend seamlessly into the hospital environment, offering a serene and restorative visual experience for patients and visitors alike.

Reflections of Serenity

Materials: Digital color photograph, printed on Willow Glass.

Location at Summa Health: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower on the Akron Campus (141 North Forge St.), blue neighborhood; various patient rooms on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th floors.

In Reflections of Serenity, Rob Blair captures the tranquil beauty of a reflective water scene, where perfect symmetry brings a sense of calm. The large trees, positioned just left of center, subtly break the symmetry and prevent the image from becoming static, drawing the viewer’s eye into the serene scene. Every detail, from the trees to the sky, is mirrored perfectly in the still water, amplifying the peaceful harmony of the moment.

Blair’s muted color palette enhances the quiet, golden light of late afternoon, with soft golden tones warming the water’s surface and a rising mist that gently veils the far shoreline. The mirrored reflection of the setting sun adds depth and warmth, anchoring the image in the serene ambiance of a summer’s evening.

Printed on Willow Glass, this image provides a restorative visual experience, inviting viewers to pause and reflect on nature's calming beauty in a hospital environment.

Lakeside Dream

Materials: Digital color photograph, printed on Willow Glass.

Location at Summa Health: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower on the Akron Campus (141 North Forge St.), blue neighborhood; various patient rooms on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th floors.

In Lakeside Dream, Rob Blair captures the soft mystery of a lakeside scene, where morning mists partially obscure a young tree and vibrant phlox at the water's edge. The scene, bathed in ethereal mist, evokes a dream-like atmosphere, inviting viewers to question the reality of what they see. Is the little tree contemplating the lake, or is it, along with the flowered bank, a creation of the lake’s own dream?

The delicate interplay of light, mist, and natural elements draws us into a quiet, introspective moment. The vivid colors of the flowers contrast with the soft, fading tones of the misty background, creating a meditative image that invites reflection. This work, printed on Willow Glass, provides a calming, almost surreal addition to the healing spaces at Summa Health, fostering a tranquil environment for rest and contemplation.

Subtle Beauty

Materials: Digital photograph on aluminum, 32” x 48”.

Location at Summa Health: Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), red neighborhood, ground-floor hallway leading to the Emergency Department from T elevators.

This piece was acquired for the Summa Health System — Akron Campus Wayfinding Project.

Rob Blair’s Subtle Beauty captures a serene moment at the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, located in Summit County’s Metroparks, on a quiet December day. In this striking digital photograph, a female Northern Cardinal perches on a sturdy branch, her muted plumage offering subtle protection during the cold months. While her coloring is less bold than her male counterpart, her vivid red beak, expressive red eyebrow feathers, and punk-inspired crest draw us in, with the soft splashes of red scattered across her yellowish-buff body, wings, and tail feathers.

Blair’s use of a shallow depth of field draws the eye to the cardinal while blurring the background, emphasizing her delicate yet striking presence in the bare winter branches. This composition, paired with the warm red tones of the background, highlights the cardinal's beauty and brings out the red accents in her feathers, creating a harmonious and reflective scene that aligns with the red neighborhood of Summa Health’s Wayfinding Project.

As the cardinal scouts for nesting sites and prepares for spring, Blair’s photograph invites us to pause and appreciate nature’s quiet elegance, even in the winter months. The piece reflects both the delicate beauty of this winter bird and the calming atmosphere that the Summa Health environment aims to create.

Bold Beauty

Materials: Digital photograph on aluminum, 32” x 48”.

Location at Summa Health: Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), red neighborhood, ground-floor hallway leading to the Emergency Department from T elevators.

This work was acquired for the Summa Health System — Akron Campus Wayfinding Project.

Captured in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park during a winter December, Bold Beauty features Ohio’s state bird, the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Renowned photographer Rob Blair, whose digital landscape images are displayed on Willow Glass throughout the Summa Health System — Akron Campus, has again turned his lens to nature. Printed on durable aluminum, this piece showcases the vivid plumage of a male cardinal perched on a highbush cranberry branch, its arching diagonal line adding energy to the composition.

Blair’s deliberate use of a shallow depth of field directs our focus to the bird’s brilliant colors—the striking red feathers and beak. The background fades into a soft blur, emphasizing the cardinal while the surrounding branches and cranberries are rendered in complementary tones. The subtle repetition of the cardinal's vibrant reds in the berries adds depth, creating a dynamic and visually rich composition that reflects the energy and warmth of the red neighborhood in Summa Health’s Wayfinding Project.

Cardinals are year-round residents in North America, staying close to their territories. Their striking appearance and song make them a familiar presence in both wild landscapes and our own backyards. Blair’s image of the cardinal perched with purpose offers a reminder of the beauty and resilience found in nature, while the bird’s characteristic stout beak, used for cracking seeds and eating insects, further connects us to the grounded, enduring spirit of the natural world.