Local Artist Jeannie Beirne Creates Children’s Mural at Behavioral Health Resources

jeannie beirne
Scenic artist and illustrator Jeannie Beirne spent a week creating the mural in the Children’s Lobby of Behavioral Health Resources. Photo courtesy of Behavioral Health Resources.
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By Gale Hemmann

Edward Jones Block AdDiving orcas. Perching birds. Playful seals. These and many other Northwest critters greet all who enter the Behavioral Health Resources Children’s Lobby in a new mural painted by local artist Jeannie Beirne. The mural, featuring South Puget Sound wildlife and scenery, is already bringing smiles to the faces of children who visit.

I spoke with Beirne about how the mural came to life. The project was made possible through a grant from the Lacey Rotary. Behavioral Health Services Community Relations and Foundation Director Alliea Phipps contacted Jeannie Beirne, who had been recommended as a painter. Beirne was moved by the project and immediately agreed. Beirne visited the lobby and discussed ideas with the staff, who shared nature photos as inspiration. They wanted the mural to capture the beauty of life in the Pacific Northwest. She created an initial design which everyone liked, and the project was underway.

jeannie beirne
Scenic artist and illustrator Jeannie Beirne spent a week creating the mural in the Children’s Lobby of Behavioral Health Resources. Photo courtesy of Behavioral Health Resources.

The process of creating the mural took five days. Beirne first needed to measure the space and scale the design. She then created an outline on the wall and painted in the color. Featuring native Northwest flora and fauna, the mural is both colorful and true to local nature.

The mural has already had an extremely positive reaction. Both Beirne and staff say that children who visit for services have been delighted to see it. Beirne says the most exciting part of the project was seeing the kids’ reactions when they first saw the mural upon entering the lobby. She says the children were also very interested in the process of making the art as she worked over the week. “They asked a lot of interesting questions,” says Beirne. Seeing the kids’ genuine excitement and engagement with the mural was a powerful example of “art as transformation,” says Jeannie. Staff called the mural a “wonderful gift,” and noted that children are visibly more upbeat when waiting for appointments in the lobby.

jeannie beirne
Jeannie Beirne adds color to the mural outline. She says it was rewarding to see the kids so excited and interested in the art. Courtesy of Behavioral Health Resources.

Jeannie Beirne is an accomplished artist. She specializes in scenic design and illustration. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Western Washington University and a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Performance Design from Arizona State University. An in-demand set designer and scenic artist, she has worked at regional theaters throughout the United States, including a show at Seattle’s Annex Theater in 2014.

Locally, Jeannie has served as set designer at Olympia’s Harlequin Productions for the past year, where her work has earned rave reviews. She most recently designed the set for the upcoming show The 39 Steps, which opens in January.

Phipps is beyond appreciative of Beirne’s work. “I cannot tell you how much Jeannie’s work means to all those who have had the opportunity to see it. This particular mural is the focal point of the Children’s Lobby renovation funded by the Lacey Rotary and the Behavioral Health Resources Foundation,” she says.

jeannie beirne
The completed mural has already elicited excitement from the children who see it. Photo courtesy of Behavioral Health Resources.

You’ll also notice a bright yellow duck floating through the wildlife of the mural as a symbol of thanks to the Rotary, since the funding for the project came from the Rotary Club’s annual Duck Dash.

So, what’s next for this talented and caring artist? She’ll soon be painting murals in the children’s lobbies at Behavioral Health Resource’s two Grays Harbor locations. Given the positive reaction to her first mural, Beirne is excited about the upcoming projects. Says Alliea Phipps, “We’re beyond blessed that she’s chosen to share her genius with us and our clients – and not just in our Olympia Children’s office either – she’s also going do work her magic in our Elma and Hoquiam offices. Thousands of children, and their parents, will get to see her creations over the years.”

The motto of Behavioral Health Resources is “building resiliency through mental health and addiction recovery.” BHR is a non-profit organization providing many vital mental-health and addiction recovery services to adults and children in need. They serve over 11,000 people through their locations in Thurston, Mason, and Grays Harbor counties. You can learn more about them and how to support them on their website. You can also follow them on Facebook.

To learn more about Jeannie Beirne’s work, visit her website, find her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

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