The Chihuly Sanctuary, given by Suzanne and Walter Scott — the most comprehensive health care environment structure ever created by world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly — was unveiled Friday at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha.
The Healing Arts Program
The Chihuly Sanctuary is only part of the Healing Arts Program. In all, the Healing Arts Program includes more than 200 pieces of original works of art throughout the building. The program eventually will extend across the medical center campus.
Another signature area within the cancer center is Leslie’s Healing Garden, an outdoor, all-season garden for which Marshall and Mona Faith were the benefactors.
“The pieces reflect a diversity of cultures and perspectives and create an oasis of calm that provides pleasant distractions from the anxiety of visits and treatments,” Dr. Gold said. “They will provide patients, staff and visitors opportunities for introspection and will motivate, rejuvenate and build endurance to fight against cancer on all fronts.”
“Healing requires more than just treating the patient medically,” said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. “Our program is designed to enhance the patient experience.
“Studies have shown that creating an atmosphere of hope and resilience through artwork goes beyond curing a disease and leads to improved patient outcomes. Patients, visitors and staff all will benefit from this environment.”
Amy Jenson serves as executive director of the Healing Arts Program, while Colleen Heavican is the curator. Gail Yanney, M.D., is the founding chair of the program, and Sarah Yale is the incoming chair.
“The physical art in the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is only the beginning,” Jenson said. “In the fall we will be offering a number of therapeutic programs to build on the patient, family and staff experience.”
Dale Chihuly, the internationally known, Seattle-based artist who created the facility, attended the event Friday.
“I just want to thank everyone involved who made the Chihuly Sanctuary a reality,” he said.
His wife, Leslie Jackson Chihuly, president and CEO of Chihuly Studio and Chihuly Workshop, said she hoped the sanctuary would provide a moment of respite for patients at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, adding the “the power of art and beauty can really change lives.
“We are proud to be associated with this world-class facility,” she said.
Photo album: Chihuly Sanctuary and ribbon cutting event
In 2014, Dale Chihuly was approached by UNMC and Omaha philanthropist Walter Scott to create a meditative space filled with his art for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Friday, he said how he had been inspired to create a “chapel” by the Matisse Chapel in France.
Located on the second and fourth floors in the heart of the 10-story cancer center, the Chihuly Sanctuary features 10 site-specific art installations designed to provide a place of respite and reflection for patients, families and staff dealing with cancer. It will serve as the cornerstone of the Healing Arts Program with art on display throughout the massive 615,000-square-foot, $323 million building on the campus of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and its clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine.
See a video on the creation of the Chihuly Sanctuary.
“It’s absolutely breathtaking, just stunning,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “Dale Chihuly’s creativity is astounding and unmatched. This is simply a treasure for our community. It will truly be a source of inspiration for anyone who views it.”
Omaha philanthropists Walter Scott and his late wife, Suzanne, made the lead gift to make the sanctuary possible. Additional gifts were made by the Gail E. Davis family and Mary Jean and Hugh Williams.
“A cancer diagnosis is one of the most profound experiences a patient can have,” said Daniel J. DeBehnke, M.D., M.B.A., CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “Numerous studies show the arts can have an important impact on the healing process. That’s why the Healing Arts Program exists — to provide patients, their families and our staff a compassionate, supportive and inspirational environment.”
The organic shape and wave-like design of the Chihuly Sanctuary were inspired by the artist’s iconic Macchia series, which sets itself apart from the surrounding architecture.
One of the highlights of the Chihuly Sanctuary is a cone-like structure that is intended to provide comfort, peace and meditation. Natural light will pass through the glass and cast shadows that will shift and change throughout the day.
The idea of the sanctuary so inspired Chihuly that he created a new body of work he calls Glass on Glass — a combination of painting and sculpture that is both two- and three-dimensional, transparent and opaque. The Glass on Glass pieces will make their world premiere at the Chihuly Sanctuary.
To create these pieces, Chihuly paints with vitreous-glass enamel on glass panels — glass on glass. He then creates overlapping compositions that are encased within a frame. When lit, they come to life as dynamic, multidimensional paintings in color, light and glass.
“I really wanted to create a space for people to meditate and find a moment of peace,” Chihuly said.
It's all stunning — but what happens to those rooftop installations, the first time it hails?
The Chihuly team was asked that question repeatedly during their visit. The artist, they said, has many outdoor exhibits around the world, and few have fallen victim to the elements. The glass, they said, is sturdy and durable.
Thank you
Is it open to the public?
The Chihuly Sanctuary is not open to the public daily. It was available to the public the day of the community open house on 5/22. But the public can sign up at http://www.nebraskamed.com/healingarts for a docent-led tour of the healing arts program.
Can we just come and view the glass without signing up for a tour.