Crystal Garden by Alex Bernstein

Throughout history and in multiple cultures, crystals have been thought to have healing power. For Crystal Garden, located in the lobby of CHKD’s Children’s Pavilion, it was Alex Bernstein’s intent to make a contemporary glass sculpture with the feel of natural crystals. This installation is intended to be engaging, bright, and allow for introspection. The artist hopes that Crystal Garden lends the suggestion of a healing energy to visitors and patients at the hospital.

The sculptures are made from cast glass in a process where the glass is melted at 1550 degrees and then cooled very slowly over many weeks. The elements are then carved by hand, faceted, and polished. Once they are placed together, the individual pieces are intended to have their own presence while also becoming a cohesive group.

Before Alex Bernstein pursued his career in the arts, he studied psychology and worked in a children's hospital for years. As he created this installation, he recalls thinking often about the mental health struggles of children. He hopes that Crystal Garden will bring solace, distraction, and spark imagination.