Moments of Serenity, 2025
Living in the present moment , embracing impermanence, and recognizing the interconnectedness of all things.
A permanent artwork at UPMC Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh
Moments of Serenity, 2025, West Entry hallway at UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
Moments of Serenity offers a quiet invitation: to pause, to breathe, to let the soft tones of color settle in. Installed in the West Entry hallway at UPMC Shadyside Hospital, this suspended sculpture is composed of 26 wave-shaped glass pieces in shades of violet, dark blue, and light blue. As people move along the corridor, the translucent colors shift and overlap, creating gentle rhythms of flow and stillness.
The glass pieces are arranged in two layers, each suspended from separate tracks set at different distances from the window. This subtle separation creates a sense of depth and movement, as colors intersect and realign depending on where the viewer stands. The sculpture doesn’t move on its own—but it moves with you, revealing new patterns and relationships through motion and perspective.
Inspired by the Zen-style gardens on the hospital grounds—where stillness and change coexist—I wanted to bring that sense of quiet presence indoors. A visual exhale. A weightless moment for patients, staff, caregivers, and visitors alike.
Commissioned by UPMC
with generous support from the Shadyside Hospital Foundation
Rooted in Zen philosophy, Moments of Serenity draws on nature as a guide to presence and awareness.
Air symbolizes breath and the invisible forces that sustain life.
Water speaks to impermanence, adaptability, and the quiet strength of moving with, rather than against, change.
Light reflects awakening and clarity—the gentle illumination that helps us return to ourselves.
The layered hues of violet, dark blue, and light blue were chosen for their emotional resonance:
Blue evokes tranquility and openness, inviting stillness.
Violet suggests insight, transformation, and deep contemplation.
Materials & Dimensions:
Glass and stainless steel cables5 X 21 FEET
This project was only possible thanks to the extraordinary team who worked alongside me. The structural support was designed and built in collaboration with Kevin Smith and the team at Extech, whose precision and care helped bring the floating effect to life. Zachary R. Treece provided the engineering expertise that ensured the installation was both safe and seamless. Each glass piece was hand-cut, layered, and kiln-formed at the Pittsburgh Glass Center, where I developed the work in close collaboration with Becky Smith, whose guidance and generosity shaped every stage of the process. The colored sheets were sourced from Wissmach Glass, a 150-year-old glass fabricator in West Virginia with a long legacy of craftsmanship.
I’m especially grateful to Renee Piechocki, public art consultant, whose expertise and thoughtful approach to public art taught me so much, and to Dana McCollum, senior interior designer at UPMC, for her support and coordination throughout the process.
Together, we created something that holds space for pause—something quiet and intentional—something that invites a moment of serenity.