making the event come alive

A property, commonly shortened to prop, is an item used on screen or stage to help enhance a performance. It can make a scene feel more authentic or help actors play their role more adequately. Props are most commonly used in conveying the time and place the narrative is set. More often than not, props are the only indicator of what decade or cultural movement a story is set. These items have been a vital part of films in Hollywood for decades used to develop and express character, propel the plot, help cut to another scene and more.

From the moment you step through our doors at Journey, you will enter a Hollywood backlot experience. Step on set, and explore props from timeless classics. From the elegance of the White Star Line’s Titanic, to the jungles of Jurassic Park, each movie set at Journey will come to life with unique, symbolic props you are sure to recognize. 

August 21, 2018

Long before movie directors began using green screens and high-tech special effects to transport viewers into new locations, they depended upon artists to paint elaborate and convincing backdrops. In almost every film of Hollywood’s golden age, large, meticulously rendered, hand-painted scenic backdrops transported moviegoers to imagined landmarks. These extraordinary paintings blended into the scene, often unnoticed, convincing viewers that what they were seeing were absolutely real.  

With this year’s theme, we knew we needed to bring our guests a first-rate Hollywood backlot experience. Grosh Backdrops is the leading supplier of the finest quality backdrops and theatrical curtains and drapes, which are all hand-painted by artists in their studio in Los Angeles, California.

Grosh backdrops have a historic past in Hollywood. In the 1930’s, eight studios dominated the film industry including MGM, Paramount, United Artist, Universal, 20th Century Fox & Columbia and RKO, and Grosh worked with all of them. Their backdrops can be seen in classics such as, I Love Lucy, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis pictures, Hawaii Five-O, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Alfred Hitchcock movies and the list goes on. 

Today, you will find Grosh’s artwork in the foyer of the Pacific Theatre at the Americana in Glendale, on the show Big Brother, at Disneyland, and even on the Wheel of Fortune. The backdrops for Michael Jackson’s Earth Tour were also created by Grosh, as well as backdrops for the road tours of other well-known singing artists.

As you can see, some of the greatest shows on earth have been designed and produced by Grosh. So, straight from the Red Carpet of Hollywood to the Journey to the Red Carpet of Lima, we expect you will be as captivated by these now as those have been in the past.

August 20, 2018

T&D Interiors began installing flooring and acoustical ceiling tile in 1981. In fact, in the early 1990s, T&D installed flooring in many of the Elder Beerman stores throughout Ohio and Michigan. Lima Memorial’s relationship with T&D Interiors dates back nearly 30 years, when the company installed flooring throughout our health system. Today, T&D continues to strive for outstanding customer satisfaction and their business has continued to flourish. 

This year, our friends from T&D Interiors want to ensure our guests receive a real Red Carpet experience. Through a generous donation of 6,400 square feet of red carpet, guests at the 2018 Journey gala will stroll down the Hollywood-inspired space T&D Interiors was once a part of designing. “Being that the theme is a red carpet event, we are proud to be involved in this fashion,” shared Troy Selover, Project Manager at T&D Interiors.

Interestingly, the first use of the red carpet by Hollywood occurred in 1922 at the newly minted Egyptian Theatre. The red carpet immediately brought a sense of glamour and continues to be associated with it yet today. When actors are on the red carpet, they thrive on having all eyes on them. At our 2018 Journey to the Red Carpet, attention will be focused on transforming the way inpatient rehabilitation is delivered in our region. "We know the Lima Memorial Foundation benefits our community. We understand the inpatient rehabilitation experience is an important aspect of a patient’s recovery, and we are proud to support the cause this year,” stated Selover. 

You might be wondering, what are we ever going to do with 6,400 square feet of red carpet after the event? Thanks to the generous forward thinking of our friends at T&D, the 2019 Night to Shine of Lima will also have their own Red Carpet experience when all of the Red Carpet from this years’ gala will be given to the planners of this very special event.  Started by the Tim Tebow Organization four years ago, Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs ages 14 and older. On one night in February, churches from around the world will come together to host Night to Shine for approximately 90,000 honored guests through the support of 175,000 volunteers! 

Thank you, T&D Interiors for not only supporting healthcare advancements in our region, but also our region as a whole. We look forward to joining you in supporting this worthwhile organization. Your gift is truly fit for the stars!

- August 8, 2018

Love Lima Week - an exciting week-long annual event celebrating all that is great about Lima. A variety of events take place each night throughout the city to increase community pride and raise awareness for opportunities to enhance and revitalize the Lima community. 

Lima is a community of giving. As we give, we benefit our entire community, as well as ourselves. Lima Memorial Health System was created by the people of Lima, is supported by the people of Lima and is responsible to the people of Lima. We are a truly independent healthcare system. The Lima Memorial Foundation works to ensure your donations are used for the community’s benefit.

The Lima Memorial Foundation not only provides support to Lima Memorial Health System, it advocates for local companies and organizations. Our annual Journey gala is just one opportunity we have to showcase all our local gems and local people and the great work they are all doing within our community. 

During Love Lima Week, Alter Ego Comics held a family game night event. Their store is full of pop culture - from classic comic book treasures, to movies of all genres and tributes to your favorite television shows. 

This year you will find Alter Ego Comics alongside the Lima Memorial Foundation as we Journey to the Red Carpet. Be sure to visit our website often, or follow us on Instagram to get a sneak peak of how Alter Ego will be involved.

Thank you, Alter Ego Comics, for bringing a little bit of Hollywood to Lima each and every day.  

Be sure to visit our local gem, Alter Ego Comics, in downtown Lima.

- June 15, 2018

Kory Hubbell is a naturally gifted illustrator and designer. Drawing since he was old enough to pick up a pencil, Kory has spent his lifetime creating—honing his skills of observation and perception, and translating those observations to paper or screen. Kory is a scholarship recipient and a graduate of one of the most prestigious art colleges in the US—Columbus College of Art and Design. He received a BFA in illustration and minored in writing. With his freelance business, HubbellArts, Kory has had the opportunity to work on some very exciting and high-profile projects for well-known clients, including Coca-Cola, Hasbro, Mattel, Nickelodeon, Precious Moments, Simon & Schuster, Spin Master and many more. Kory has even had a hand in designing product packaging for Hot Wheels toys and creating children’s books featuring well-known characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, The Backyardigans, and The Incredible Hulk. Not only is he a talented digital painting and logo artist, he also creates caricatures, branding and paintings. 

Kory has been a friend of the Lima Memorial Foundation in the past, most recently painting an extraordinary illustration of Lima landmarks live at our 2017 Journey for the Heart. This exquisite composite was subsequently auctioned at the end of the evening to a very appreciative guest. 

"It has been my honor and privilege to be a part of the Lima Memorial Foundation Journey events over the last couple of years, contributing artwork and experiences for guests. From the team that plans these elaborate events months in advance, to all of the people involved on the actual day, every individual puts forth their best effort with one common goal: To raise money for the hospital, ultimately providing the best health services to the community. It's a beautiful thing to be a very small part of."

When developing the theme for Journey to the Red Carpet, we wanted our guests to experience the essence of Hollywood from the very first item they would see. Kory’s talent played right into our thought process when designing our gala’s Save the Date.  Using the process of digital painting, Kory hand-designed the Hollywood Hills and our 2018 Journey logo. From start to finish, the project took Kory more than ten hours.  

Kory was born and raised in Ada, Ohio and currently resides in Columbus with his wife and three children. When he is not creating pieces for his creative graphics company, Kory works full-time for DXC Technology as a graphic facilitator. 

We are thrilled to have the talent of Kory again this year. Be on the look-out for more of his Journey to the Red Carpet creations in the coming months. 

You can find more of Kory’s work at @HubbellArts on Instagram and Facebook. 

- June 1, 2018

Members of our Journey planning team attended the 2018 Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) Fashion Show to gain inspiration for fresh ideas and unique guest experiences. 

The atrium of the venue housed a 14-feet high, interactive art installation designed by Matthew Mohr. The As We Are installation featured a stack of curved LED screens that taper to form the shape of a human head, 17 times larger than life. Our team got involved by having 29 digital cameras capture a 3D image of their face and head and project the final image for all to see. The intent of the piece is to “reconsider oneself in a unique context, to consider that representation in a public setting, and to re-contextualize people from different cultures and backgrounds.”

Later in the evening, the CCAD team shared an energizing film that primed the crowd for the upcoming fashion show. Be on the lookout for the outcome of the glamorous inspiration the team was able to acquire as we Journey to the Red Carpet. 

- May 14, 2018

As we seek new ideas and concepts to continually make the event change and grow, the process of picking a theme and playing the game “Can You Top This” get harder and harder. Once an initial thought is agreed upon, a series of vision boards are created. We look at all aspects of the event, including how we are going to immerse our guests into a feeling, place or time period. Then we build the vision. This year’s vision boards are spotlighted below. Join us as we journey back to the Golden Age of Hollywood.

- May 1, 2018