Art in Public Places donated Dreamweaver, a brushed stainless steel sculpture by the artist Eric Holt, to the healing garden within the new St. Charles Cancer Center.
Dreamweaver is 116.5 inches tall and moves when touched to create an interactive experience between the art and the observer. It was purchased by Art in Public Places and funded by the Bend Foundation, Brooks Resources and private donations. The piece will be placed on the southeast side of the pond in the center of the healing garden.
“St. Charles is a place of healing – for the body and the soul – and the arts play a critical role in healing. A soothing environment, beautiful art, gardens full of greenery and flowers that bloom, the sound of a waterfall – they all help lower stress, which in turns helps a body to heal,” said Dr. Linyee Chang, medical director of St. Charles Cancer Center.
The healing garden will be a place of rest and quiet reflection for patients, family members, volunteers, visitors and St. Charles caregivers with Dreamweaver at its center.
“We discovered the sculpture while strolling past Gallery 903 in the Pearl District,” said Sue Hollern, Arts in Public Places president. “What makes the sculpture absolutely stunning is that this beautiful work of art turns on its base. Arts in Public Places is thrilled that Dreamweaver will be installed in the healing garden to be enjoyed by patients and visitors alike.”
Holt, the artist behind Dreamweaver, said his helical sculptures were originally inspired by smoke billowing into the air. He later realized the sculptures also have a passionate and intimate human quality.
“I find the work of art inspiring and beautiful,” Holt said.
The healing garden is attached to the new cancer center at St. Charles Bend and will be named in honor of Sister Catherine Hellmann and Sisters of St. Joseph of Tipton when it is dedicated this fall.
Sister Catherine served as the CEO and president emeritus of St. Charles from 1969 – 2001. “Sister Catherine’s unwavering dedication to healing has become deeply embedded in the health system’s DNA and I believe Dreamweaver captures the essence of this spirit,” said Lisa Dobey, executive director of St. Charles Foundation.
The new cancer center will bring all cancer services under one roof, increasing collaboration among care providers and lowering costs. The facility will allow for a continuum of care that accommodates comprehensive cancer prevention, treatment and recovery services, as well as support groups, complementary therapies and the survivorship program. Going through treatment near home, that is equal to or better than care they can receive outside this region, eases the burdens patients often face during treatment and recovery.
Art in Public Places
Art in Public Places is a nonprofit organization that provides art to various locations throughout the city, bringing a wide range of artistic styles and ideas to Bend to raise awareness for the arts and adding to the beautiful natural landscape. www.artinpublicplaces.org
St. Charles Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of St. Charles Health System, the Foundation works to support and improve health care in Central and Eastern Oregon. Private donations raised by the Foundation allow St. Charles to build new medical facilities, purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment, keep pace with the latest technological advances, and deliver exceptional patient care in a healing environment. The Foundation does more than just raise money for bricks and mortar. The organization also raises money to support many programs that benefit low-income and uninsured patients. www.foundation.stcharleshealthcare.org
