The interactive art installment in Sun Valley Meadows closed Sunday, August 5, but stories remain.
Sunday, August 5, concluded the “1 in 8” art installment designed by local artist Danica Mattias. The design included eight giant woven balls made of reed that were then threaded with 140 pink tribute flags featuring the names of breast cancer survivors, those lost to the disease and other loved ones. One of the eight structures was rounder and pinker than the rest to represent the one in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
Construction of the interactive art installment “1 in 8” began Tuesday, July 24, and continued until Sunday, July 29.
“We could not have done this without the incredible volunteers that lent a hand,” said Expedition Inspiration Marketing and Development Director Krista Detwiler. “The most remarkable part about the construction process was that many of the volunteers were just walking along Sun Valley Road, or taking their dog out, and wanted to contribute. We had all ages—from toddlers to grandmothers—helping us weave this exhibit. We met so many wonderful people.“
The eight structures roamed free within the field 24 hours a day and glowed at night with the help of three pink solar lanterns at their nucleus.
“At night, I stopped by and saw people with flashlights reading the names on the flags and talking in whispers,” said EI Honorary Board member Susan Tucker. “It was a reverential feeling.”
The completed installation remained in Sun Valley Meadows for a full week. Many people stopped by to roll them around, take pictures, and reflect. “By day, I saw families on bikes stop when the children called out ‘Look at that!’ and heard their parents explain breast cancer and remember loved ones,” said Tucker.
“The process of creating ‘1 in 8’ has left me with such a deeper appreciation for the healing nature of art,” said artist Danica Mattias. “I see more than just eight woven structures when I look at that field now. I see how disease hits home and changes lives so frequently. I am reminded that every day is a gift.”
The balls are available for sale at $500 each. Expedition Inspiration also welcomes sponsorship of the project: Please contact the office for more details.
The art installation was a part of Expedition Inspiration’s Paint the Town Pink Week for Breast Cancer Research. Each of the five events, which ranged from movie premieres to hikes and climbs, contributed to Expedition Inspiration’s mission to find new cures and prevention strategies in the fight against breast cancer so the people we love—our mothers, sisters, daughters and sons—won’t suffer from the disease.
Expedition Inspiration’s next event is the Roll Out the Red Carpet for Breast Cancer Research fundraiser at the Stueckle Sky Center in Boise, Idaho, on October 24. The evening features dinner, live and silent auctions and special guest speaker Mark Pegram, MD, who is the Director of the Breast Cancer Program at Stanford Cancer Institute and Professor of Medicine at Stanford University.
For more information, visit Expedition Inspiration’s website at www.expeditioninspiration.org, call 208-726-6456, follow @BreastCancerEI on Twitter and like “Expedition Inspiration Fund for Breast Cancer Research” on Facebook.
# # #
