Client: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Overview

“Lapis Waters” measures 96″h x 60″w x 2.5″d and is made of overlapping painted metal tiles on a wood panel. The artwork depicts an image of sunlight reflected off of water. The artwork is installed in the reception room at the newly remodeled Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies.

Goals

The Art and Environment Committee, overseen by Friends of Dana-Farber and chaired by Jane B. Mayer, was formed in 1998 to collaborate with the Institute on the overall development and management of its art collection. Activities of the committee include working with the Institute’s departments and architects in space planning and design, fundraising, selection, placement, and conservation of art. Committee membership consists of patients, patient representatives, Friends members, trustees, and staff throughout the Institute.
The mission of the Art Program is to provide an art collection that engages patients, families, and staff, and at the same time brings comfort, provides an opportunity for contemplation, and humanizes the hospital experience.

Process

Lydia of LFA Art Consulting requested a proposal for artwork based on decisions she, the architects and art committee made for size and placement of the artwork. The art consultant supplied us with a subject theme of water, budget, overall size of artwork and architectural renderings of the space where the artwork would hang. We supplied several concept renderings and material samples of the proposed artwork.
The feedback Lydia supplied us with from the meeting with the art committee was very helpful in creating the final artwork, "In the chosen proposal #1, they loved the light which they felt presented a sense of hope, light, birth..these are concepts they derived from the piece…they like that the piece was very ethereal that the imagery was not dictated by a landscape format and the way you presented the light within the piece…"