By Natalie Austin — Daily Staff Writer

WOODSTOCK — A room at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital is under water.

The ocean and all of its creatures have poured into the room, leaving lobsters leaping from electrical outlets and schools of smiling fish swimming to meet a little boy riding a sea horse. A bright blue sky with white clouds stretches out across the ceiling.

A closer look at the ocean life reveals a deep sea diver using a walker. An octopus has a cast and leg braces.

This is a special place, the pediatric therapy room, where children, ranging in age from infants to 12- and 13-year-olds, come to gain strength stolen from them by cerebral palsy, developmental delays, injuries and other physical ailments.

The brightly colored mural that covers the entire treatment room is for them, the result of an idea by a local arts organization and some hospital therapists who treat children.

"Under the Sea" replaces a dull, beige room with green metal utility closets, scuffed walls and that hospital feel that does little to calm adults, much less children.

"When they come to the hospital for therapy, it can be threatening. We feel having a fun room will make them feel more relaxed and at ease," says Brigetta Stewart, an occupational therapist at the hospital.

Laura Fogle, a physical therapist, approached The Art Group in Mt. Jackson, and it wasn't long before the room was filled with artists. Hospital maintenance workers painted the room blue in preparation for the flood of colorful marine life that would flow from artists' brushes.

"We needed a soothing, calming environment, as well as one that is a lot of fun," says Fogle.

Sensory therapy is one of the treatments received by children who enter this small room, she says.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the kids come in," says Fogle.

Tom Chipley, an artist with The Art Group, was hard at work on a recent morning creating a menagerie of ocean creatures.

Periodically, he would ask for a physical therapy item to be brought in the room, transferring braces and other adaptive equipment to some of his sea life. Using the motion picture character "Finding Nemo" as an inspiration, the ocean would swell with smiling clown fish, clams, oysters, rays and even a mermaid.

"I think it's going to be wonderful," says Chipley. "I think our goal is to make kids look forward to coming into this room as not a place of treatment, but a place of pleasure."

A giant kelp forest was the project of the morning for artist Kay Ely-Pierce, who says she is used to working on large format paintings.

"This is part of The Art Group's mission. We do outreach," says Ely-Pierce. "This is what The Art Group is all about."

None of the artists were compensated for the creation. All agreed this was the largest scale work they had ever done.

"It is because Shenandoah Memorial Hospital was just gracious enough to think of us," Ely-Pierce adds. "I think it's a great partnership."

The room is where the greatest concentration of children receive medical care, Fogle says.

Children are brought there to gain or regain movement and other abilities. They will do so surrounded by walls that seem liquid and with cartoonish creatures hovering around them.

Fogle says the project exceeds her expectations for a room she succinctly described as "awful" before.

"We are so fortunate to have such a talented group of local artists who are willing to share their talent for the community," she says.

Oxygen outlets and other critical connections remain in the 12-by-20-foot room, but just seem to blend in with the watery landscape.

"In terms of what this will give back to children who use this room, I don't think we can put a dollar amount on that," says Fogle.

* Contact Natalie Austin at naustin@nvdaily.com