As the vibrant city of Miami prepares to host the prestigious Art Basel fair, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, affiliated with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is set to captivate audiences with its second annual “Art is Medicine” installation. Opening on December 1, this unique exhibit (Sylvester’s ‘Science & Safari’) will showcase the intersection of art, science, and humanity, shedding light on groundbreaking clinical research led by Sophia George, Ph.D.
Titled “Science & Safari,” the exhibit brings together the artistic lens of photographer Craig Butts and the scientific endeavors of Dr. Sophia George. The collection marries captivating photographs of Namibia’s landscapes and wildlife with Dr. George’s global research on cancer disparities within the African diaspora. The project is a testament to Sylvester’s commitment to using art as a healing tool, creating a gallery space within the cancer center that serves as a sanctuary of hope.
Desert Horse-Grant, Sylvester’s chief transformation officer and the visionary behind the installation, expressed the importance of providing visual breaks from medical imagery in a cancer center. “Our gallery is a message of hope, in a place of healing,” Horse-Grant said. “May the newest exhibit teleport and provide respite to the anxious.”
The exhibit unfolds as a walking gallery, featuring contributions from physicians, staff, patients, and the community. The captivating Namibia exhibit, conceptualized and curated by Horse-Grant, seeks to engage visitors and patients, offering them an immersive experience beyond the traditional clinical setting.
Dr. Sophia George, Sylvester’s associate director for diversity, equity, and inclusion, emphasized the critical mission of addressing health disparities in cancer outcomes. She and her colleagues are part of a global effort to decode Black genomes, exploring cancer-specific issues faced by populations across the African diaspora. The exhibit, with its QR code-linked information on Dr. George’s research program, becomes a creative pipeline to the ongoing clinical trials and studies.
Photographer Craig Butts, who traveled with Dr. George to Namibia as part of the African Cancer Genome Registry Study, captured large-scale photographs of the landscapes and animals. His personal connection to the cause, having lost family members to cancer, adds a profound layer to the exhibit. Butts’s donation of the photography aims to make the safari and related science accessible to all.
“Science & Safari” is not just a visual spectacle; it is an immersive experience that blends art and science seamlessly. Dr. George expressed that the exhibit “captures the genetic landscape of the African diaspora by working collaboratively with native Africans.” The display allows visitors to appreciate the beauty of the landscape and the constituents within it, fostering a deeper connection to the ongoing research.
Horse-Grant emphasized the therapeutic environment Sylvester aims to create, with calming images and live music for patients as they await treatment. “At Sylvester, we celebrate art and its power to heal. It is a way to connect us to one another and the community,” she said.
“Science & Safari” will be on display through the spring, offering a unique and transformative experience for Art Basel attendees and Sylvester’s patients alike. The exhibit serves as a reminder that the convergence of art and science has the potential to not only delight the senses but also contribute to groundbreaking advancements in healthcare.