Towering 60-foot sculpture is new focal point of Hutchinson Center campus
SEATTLE, July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- It may seem a contradiction, but the
new, landmark architectural sculpture at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center should strike observers as both monumental and delicate. That's
according to its creator, architectural sculptor Ed Carpenter, whose
installation team just put finishing touches on this 60-foot-tall
glass-and-metal piece called "Vessel."
Carpenter characterizes "Vessel" as a centerpiece for the Hutchinson
Center. "My intention was to create a sculpture that could not be anywhere
else -- that would feel right for this site and this institution both
physically and metaphorically," he said.
"Rising more than four stories in a transparent and searching gesture,
the sculpture employs light to represent the optimistic spirit of the
institution," he said. "It is a luminous container for the aspirations and
hopes of all involved."
"Vessel" is lit from the inside and outside at night; its open design
encourages pedestrians to walk into its center.
To achieve the sculpture's light yet towering appearance, Carpenter
used laminated and tempered safety glass to strengthen structural sections
of aluminum, allowing longer spans at a lighter weight than with
conventional methods. He rebuilt the structure with enhanced reinforcement
after the partially built original sustained damage in a windstorm last
October.
Carpenter, who is based in Portland, is an internationally acclaimed
artist with pieces commissioned in Ireland, Australia, Taiwan, Japan and
many locations across the United States. Regionally, his works can be found
in downtown Seattle at the new U.S. Federal Courthouse, in Redmond at City
Hall and in the Safeco corporate headquarters, and in Bellevue at
Meydenbauer Center. He also played a key role in the redesign of the rose
window of St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle.
Carpenter has been overseeing and participating in every step of the
installation with a crew of longtime helpers; the structural portion of the
piece has taken about six weeks to complete. The accompanying lighting and
landscaping in the traffic circle at the Center's main entrance should be
finished this week.
The commission of "Vessel" was made possible by a gift from the family
of a former Center scientist who specified that the funds be used for the
creation of outdoor art. The Center's art committee established selection
criteria and initiated an international call for artists, eventually
narrowing it down to six finalists. From there, the committee chose
Carpenter's work after considering artist presentations and input from
faculty and staff, who favored "Vessel" in an online survey.
At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams
of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent,
diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers,
including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for
health, knowledge and hope to their work and to the world. For more
information, please visit http://www.fhcrc.org.
CONTACT
Christi Ball Loso
(206) 667-5215
closo@fhcrc.org
SOURCE Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
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Related links:
http://www.fhcrc.org
CONTACT:
Christi Ball Loso of Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center, +1-206-667-5215, closo@fhcrc.org
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