Artist Chihuly provides installation for cancer center

Artist Dale Chihuly will bring his vibrant works of art to patients, families and staff at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center when it opens in the spring of 2017. Chihuly, a pioneer of the studio glass movement and considered to be one of the world's foremost artists working in glass today, will create an installation known as The Chihuly Sanctuary inside the Cancer Center.

Dale Chihuly meets with 13-year-old Elena Sullivan, a cancer patient at Nebraska Medicine.

"I really wanted to create a space for people to meditate and find a moment of peace," said Chihuly, who hopes the artwork is a welcome addition to the cancer center and to the city. See Chihuly share his vision in this video. Two Nebraska Medicine lymphoma patients were on-site to help unveil the designs, adding a special touch to the announcement. Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., UNMC chancellor and chairman of the Nebraska Medicine Advisory Board, said that the Chihuly Sanctuary will be an integral part of the Healing Arts Program, which is being developed using evidence-based research to aid in the healing of patients.

An artist's rendering of the Chihuly Sanctuary.

"We are fortunate to have Mr. Chihuly's art as a part of our campus," said Dr. Gold. "I have no doubt that the brilliant colors and innovative shapes he's come to be known for will serve as an inspiration to our patients on their journey toward healing, and to our staff and students as we travel on this journey together." From reduced pain perception, anxiety, stress, loneliness and depression to providing new insight and clarify feelings about a cancer diagnosis and treatment, the Healing Arts Program will include the most motivating and meaningful works of art to help heal the human spirit. "Art can have a very positive effect on the healing process," said Kenneth Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. "Having beautiful, peaceful and creative pieces by one of the most talented artists in the world today, as one of the cornerstones of our Healing Arts Program, gives me great confidence that we are doing everything possible to help our patients heal emotionally, as well as physically." "This small corner of the city is well on its way to becoming a world-class medical center so we thought it was worthy of some world-class art," said Walter Scott, the lead donor. "We know patients will have high expectations for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center," said Gail Walling Yanney, M.D., Healing Arts Program committee member. "The Chihuly Sanctuary is being designed to surpass those expectations in every possible way. We're hopeful it will let patients know how committed we are to healing on a number of different levels." To see the progress on the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, visit BuffettCancerCenter.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.