Feo Pitcairn
Abington Memorial Hospital
THE ASPLUNDH CANCER PAVILION INSTALLATION
Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health was formerly Abington Memorial Hospital (AMH), is the flagship hospital of Abington-Jefferson Health, located in the northern suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Feo Pitcairn, a well known photographer, was given the opportunity to lead the design and installation of artwork throughout the new facility. Feo decided to produce his images on dye sublimated aluminum which lead an insightful response once the artwork was installed.
“When the light really turned on for us was when we did an installation for the Abington Hospital. It was such a game changer for me. Realizing that these installations could make such a difference. It was stunning for the employees and patients. A man with open heart surgery would spend his days in the hospital, walking up and down the halls admiring the art and said the works gave him will to live.” - Feo Pitcairn
Ewing Cole designed the Asplundh Cancer Pavilion located in Abington, Pennsylvania. What makes the design strategy for the Asplundh Cancer Center so special, is the client’s vision of a healing environment for cancer patients also helps heal the building site itself.
“The notion of healing within a natural environment drove the design of the project. More than just locating an isolated healing garden, the client’s vision capitalized on the opportunity to reconnect the building inhabitants to an ecologically restored and vibrant landscape.” – Ewing Cole
Feo worked with architects on the ground floor. As he got to know the mission, the installation developed a deeper meaning than just beauty. If the work is properly done, it resonates with the human spirit. It’s even more profound than art. This incredibly large brand new facility provides the latest technology and new machines that are treating cancer.
“The images are so stunning – they have luminescence on metal that I haven’t seen in any other medium. You don’t have to have acrylic or museum glass in front that’s always reflective. I quite enjoy the marriage between the high end digital cameras and the metal substrate.” – Feo Pitcairn
Thinking of what would be appropriate in a facility like this, soft and sentimental nature has such a wide range of emotions Feo wanted to incorporate. The local environment serves as a window of inspiration for the images that he conveys. For example, Pennypack creek flows by facility before emptying into the Delaware river. The essence of the the building gives the overwhelming feeling of being an extension of nature. Nature without demands one must create nature within.
