Seidman Cancer Center and Art

Dear Reader,

There’s nothing routine about a stem cell transplant. When my brother-in-law David experienced complications, John and I began traveling to the Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Since the focus of this blog is the arts, why has this become a subject for writing? For one thing, writers never experience anything without recognizing the possibilities it presents.

The first time we walked across the street from the hotel into the hospital, I screeched to a halt in front of Joan Miró’s 1969 etching La Calebasse (The Gourd). At first, I thought it was a reproduction (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I noticed an art museum style wall label next to it, which is not usually done with reproductions. The piece that captured my attention was an original etching with aquatint and carborundum – what that means to most of us is a richly-colored, gorgeous piece of art. If this was in the corridor leading to the lobby, I wondered, what other treasures awaited?

The answer was: quite a few. There were watercolors, acrylics, photographic prints, collages, as well as free-standing and wall sculptures everywhere. In fact, the Seidman Cancer Center’s website has a page devoted to its art collection and their mission statement is clear:

For everyone who spends time at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center – patients, visitors, caregivers and employees – the 325-piece art collection is designed to uplift, comfort and calm; to provoke thought and curiosity; to encourage reflection; to delight in the moment and to provide confidence and hope.

A message from this visitor: Mission accomplished!