Children who come to stay for treatment at Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s newly redecorated pediatrics unit will find a place of color, whimsy and creativity.

The unit’s walls have been enlivened with movable, interactive sculptures of robot parts and original pastel and watercolor illustrations from children’s books by Lawrence native Stephen T. Johnson.

“It’s fantastic,” said Kay Henry, chair of the Lawrence Arts Commission. “When we started this project, the walls were white. … Now the walls are filled with artwork that is bright, cheerful and educational.”

The hospital and its endowment association had an open house Monday to celebrate the renovation of the pediatrics unit.

A $35,000 grant from the arts commission — as part of the city’s Percent for Art Project — financed redecoration of the unit with Johnson’s original artwork. Johnson, 38, is a 1987 graduate of Kansas University and the 2000 winner of the Caldecott Award, given to the illustrator of the most distinguished children’s book of the year.

For the hospital unit, Johnson illustrated his story, “My Little Blue Robot.” The artwork includes an interactive robot sculpture display, as well as 12 children’s book illustrations.

The artwork was dedicated Monday in memory of Sally Six Hersh, a community benefactor and a member of the arts commission’s selection committee. Hersh died in 2001.

Apart from the grant that financed Johnson’s work, more than $180,000 was donated by area school children, children’s groups, individuals, businesses and the 2000 St. Patrick’s Day Parade to the Code Red for Kids campaign. The campaign raised money to renovate the hospital’s pediatrics unit.