Milwaukee (Feb. 7, 2008) — A Crane Art Project sponsored by the Froedtert Hospital Foundation will make the endangered birds a visual centerpiece for the new Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center.

Artists are invited to submit proposals for proposed or fully completed art pieces that convey the connection between the crane and the vision for the new Clinical Cancer Center as a hope-filled, healing environment. The pieces will be installed in the public spaces of the new cancer building, which is slated to open in May.

The crane was chosen as a visual emblem for the Clinical Cancer Center because it holds cross-cultural appeal as a symbol of health, longevity, compassion and protection, according to Sue Derus, executive director of cancer services for Froedtert Hospital. “As we learned more about this amazing bird, we realized that the crane’s annual migration flight — an arduous journey requiring great strength and persistence — is quite symbolic of the challenging path facing a cancer patient,” Derus said. The hospital is working with the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wis., as a resource for crane information.

The request for proposal is open to any professional artist, landscape artist, architect or design professional. Opportunities include an exterior entrance keystone piece; a main lobby keystone piece, preferably a suspended work; a wall-mounted visual display; and second- and third-floor lobby pieces.

The deadline for submission is Friday, March 7, 2008. The request for proposal form and other information is available on www.froedtertfoundation.org.

Author: Kathy Sieja

Date: Feb. 8, 2008