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His stainless steel pieces accentu- ate the soothing atmosphere of heal- ing gardens. Multi-unit sculptures symbolizing joy, hope and the inno- cence of childhood, welcome visitors at the entrance of several children's hospitals. Lighting must refl ect each project's purpose, Placzek said. "I want my pieces at children's hospitals to be very uplifting," he said. "If children can relate to the colorful sculptures, then maybe the hospital will become a place that's not quite so scary. The healing gardens — places that encourage quiet refl ection and peacefulness — of er a dif erent expe- rience, so I use low-voltage lighting Innovative lighting is a signature element used by sculpture artist Matthew Placzek. Creating ambience, excitement and movement, dramatic illumination is as essential to his pieces as are clay and bronze — it is never a random accent added after a sculpture is completed. Placzek, a monumental sculpture artist based in Omaha, Nebraska, is the talent behind large-scale artwork on display at universities, corpora- tions and medical centers throughout the country. Impressive during the daytime, his works of art exude a transformative, magical essence in the dark, thanks to their creator's in- novative lighting designs. to highlight the sculptures and create shadows and interesting patterns." As he has become more involved in monumental sculpture work, Plac- zek has observed a growing trend for high-end lighting in the construction of new medical facilities. "The use of color, projection and specialty lighting is often expected in new medical construction," he said, "but specialty lighting incorporated into artwork — where the lighting be- comes the art — is still unexpected." Embracing the 'Spirit' One of Placzek's recently completed projects, located at the University of Oklahoma Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City, presented unique lighting challenges. Titled "Spirit," the sculpture is constructed on a 150-foot-long island. The piece spans the length of the island, leading to the hospital's entrance. "Spirit's" focal point is 12 kites, healthcare lighting WHIMSICAL SPIRIT "Spirit's" colorfully decorated, large-scale kites welcome patients and visitors to the University of Oklahoma Children's Hospital. Spotlight BY JILL KUSHNER BELMONT | PHOTOS BY DAVID COBB Sculpture artist sheds light on the importance of illumination in outdoor art Focal Points 20 Medical Construction & Design | M A RCH /A PR IL 2015 | MCDM AG.COM