from things,” Moore said. “To let go and have that relief from everyday life.”

He even incorporated a heart into each of the vivid mountain photos that will be part of the collection.

“In that day and in that moment, it had that vibe. It wasn’t that much of a stretch to put that heart in,”Moore said. “Folks here are having a difficult time. I hope this inspires them to get to the next phase of their lives and maybe even go there and see it with their own eyes.”

While not required, Landsman requested artists who were creating a custom piece for the house to try and incorporate a heart into their work in order to create a scavenger hunt for the families staying at the facility.

“We were pretty excited about the response,” Landsman said. “There are hundreds of hearts. One piece has 37 hearts in it. I haven’t found all of the hearts yet.”

The request, she believes, helped artists realize that their piece was not going to be part of just another show.

“This is the house that love built,”

Landsman said. “ A lot of artists said they really liked the idea.”

Now that all the art has been selected, the pieces are being matted and framed.

Landsman and her committee will then figure out where to hang all the pieces in the new facility.

“This is not over yet,” Landsman said.

“There is a still a lot of work to be done.”

While art may be featured in other Ronald McDonald Houses, Pagnotti believes RMCH Maryland’s collection stands apart.

“I think it is a very unique project, especially the scale of art,” Pagnotti said. “ All of the artists donated their pieces. We have hundreds of them.”

“The quality and amount of art this house will have makes this Ronald McDonald house different than others,” Landsman agreed.

For Landsman, working on the project and volunteering at the RMCH Maryland makes her feel fortunate.

“I had a daughter with special needs. She passed away,” Landsman said. “It keeps me connected to my daughter. I feel closer to her being here helping families in similar situations.” kvjones@baltsun.com