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Healthcare Meditation Chapel Glass

Even before this blog existed, I tried to write regularly about my process. I didn’t often publish such jottings; but once in awhile, they took form out in the world.

For example, amidst my recent musings about the growing niche of healthcare meditation chapel glass, I suddenly remembered an article that I wrote for Healthcare Design Magazine back in 2006. I decided to see if it’s still archived online, and what do you know – it is! Titled “Meditations in Glass,” the piece briefly discusses an art glass feature wall that I created with SMWM Architecture (now merged with Perkins+Will) for the meditation chapel at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.

Rereading it nearly a decade later, I was pleased to find that it still stands as a nice record of that project and my approach to art in healthcare settings:

When I was drafting ideas, I wanted to do a piece that respected the users of the space and also extended the architectural intent. The chapel is a small and intimate setting that relies on simple volumes and materials and carefully considered lighting for its effect.

As you might imagine, many emotions come into play when creating a piece for a hospital. I feel that the architect, client, and I all wanted to create a space that evoked serenity, peacefulness, and contemplation.

My approach to glass is to use it in a manner that express its materiality and tactile qualities, while also giving great thought to color, pattern, and light to shape and define a space.

You can read the whole article here.

If interested, you also can check out more of my art glass for hospital chapels and meditation rooms here and for other aspects of healthcare here.