Young artist chosen to display art in new Sanford Hospital

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A Moorhead teen has earned some bragging rights.

He is the youngest artist chosen to have his work displayed in the new Sanford Hospital.

Elias Harris is looking for the perfect angle. The young, aspiring photographer likes to capture colorful outdoor shots.

"Mostly of nature and photos of like butterflies and flowers and kids and stuff like that," said Elias Harris.

But photography is more than a hobby for Elias, he's a professional.

Just past his 13th birthday, he is the youngest artist chosen to have his work hang in the halls of the new Sanford Medical Center Fargo.

"Sometimes with your own kids you have rose-petal glasses and you think that they're pretty talented. It was nice to have him recognized outside of our family and friends that he truly does have a talent," said Laura Harris, Elias's mother.

The family found out about Sanford's call for artists just 2 days before the deadline.

A committee of community members and Sanford employees thought photos like these would fit perfectly in the children's hospital, they didn't know that the then 12-year-old photographer was a child himself.

"We did not know his age. We didn't know that until after the artist was selected and we were calling the artists back and talking to them that we found out that he was 12," said Roberta Young, Chief Nursing Executive.

And the placement of the photos has an extra special meaning to the Harris's because they've spent many hours in the children's hospital themselves.

At the age of 4, Elias's older sister Signe was diagnosed with leukemia. She spent two and a half years in chemotherapy.

Later, she was also diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and Celiac Disease.

"Means a lot to our family because we have spent so much time in the hospital that other people can get inspiration and hope from his pictures," said Signe Harris, Elias's sister.

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