Inspired by the hands of a surgeon, this sculpture is a portrayal of the idea that there is healing in the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of care.
“Healing Hands,” by De Pere artist David Windey, is inspired by the hands of a surgeon and is a portrayal of the idea that there is healing in the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of care.
In 2019, Joe and Kathy Reinke Nemmers came to Bellin Health looking for a way to honor Kathy’s late husband and beloved Bellin physician, Dr. Mark Reinke. As they thought about a meaningful way to honor his legacy, they honed in on Mark’s strong sense of spirituality.
Inspired by Mark’s own hands, the idea of “Healing Hands” was brought to life. Mark saw something deeper in his patients and their families when turned to faith, hope and love to bring comfort to suffering and inspire healing.
Bellin continues to be a strong presence in the community with significant growth, including this new facility, the Bellin Health Surgery & Specialty Center. This project offered the perfect space for the sculpture. Kathy and Joe want this sculpture to send a message of hope to patients as well as to inspire the clinical staff to achieve the same standard of care Mark provided.
About Mark K. Reinke, MD
Mark was many things in his life: a husband of twenty-seven years, a father of five children, an Air Force pilot and a highly skilled surgeon. But first and foremost, he was a man of faith who let his Christian values guide every day of his life.
Mark joined NEW ENT in Green Bay in 1997, where he was a highly respected ear, nose and throat surgeon. He also served as Medical Staff President at Bellin Hospital and on the Bellin Health Board of Directors. The ENT clinic space in the Bellin Health Surgery & Specialty Center is named in his honor.
David Windey worked for over 1,500 hours to create the sculpture and said it required intensive planning to execute the finished product. Windey uses welding techniques to create his work. He started by designing the sculpture using pictures of Mark’s children's hands and then built the framework around that design, which includes aluminum that is then cladded with the skin.
The skin is made up of aluminum sheets that are hammered and shaped into place over the frame. He uses smaller pieces to fill all areas of the skin, welded perfectly into place. He tig welds the plates to the framework, making a structurally sound piece. All the welds are then grinded and polished into the look you see today.
By the Numbers:
- Each hand weighs about 300 pounds.
- The base is 5 ½ feet wide by 9 feet long and about 4 1/2” tall.
- The base weighs about 1,200 pounds.
- The hands are 10 feet tall.
- In total, the sculpture stands about 15 feet tall and weighs 1,800 pounds.
About the Artist
David Windey (Windey Metal Art) is an artist out of De Pere, Wis., that creates beautiful one-of-a-kind metal sculptures for both interior and exterior display.
Special Thanks
The Bellin Health Foundation would like to extend incredible thanks to Joe and Kathy Reinke Nemmers and their children for gifting this beautiful sculpture in Mark’s honor.
