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News Release

Media Contacts:
Christina Chavira
Communications Specialist
530.332.5589 - office; 530.588.4411 - cell
christina.chavira@enloe.org        

Local art from Enloe’s first Alcove Art Project goes up for auction

Second project underway now

CHICO, Calif., March 17, 2009 – Enloe Medical Center launched an online auction to sell the nine art panels created by local artists last year. The online auction can be found at www.enloe.org/planetree. Bids will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20. The online auction launched March 16 and will run through 5 p.m. on March 20. Bidding will continue at the sold-out 2009 Enloe Gala event taking place in Chico on March 21.

The nine art panels were the inaugural pieces created for Enloe’s newly opened parking structure as part of Enloe's first Alcove Art Project. Nine local artists, selected by a jury of art community members, created the artwork. The artists are: Ellen Akimoto, Ellen Beauregard, Mathew DelFave, Ellen Heise, Robin Indar, Sienna Orlando, Ben Saturen, Lorri Van Leuven and Chris Yates.

Proceeds from the art sales will be split evenly between the artists and Enloe's Planetree fund, which supports projects that provide patient-centered care in a healing environment. The Enloe Gala, where the auction will end, is a fundraiser to benefit the enhancement of the family lounges on the second through fourth floors of Enloe’s existing patient tower.

The art panels are about 3 feet wide by 6 feet tall, and weigh at least 40 pounds each. Any bidding winners at the Enloe Gala will be notified at that event, and Enloe will notify any online bidding winners by Sunday, March 22, 2009.

Enloe is one of more than 140 Planetree affiliates across the country and internationally. Enloe has begun to implement initiatives that address some of the components of Planetree. Displaying art is part of a Planetree component called Healing Environments. When the art panels were on display at the Enloe Parking Structure, they helped transform a typically utilitarian environment into an interesting and welcoming place for patients, staff and community members.

Meanwhile, a second Alcove Art Project is underway. The artists selected to create art panels for this project will be introduced and their art displayed in April. The Enloe Parking Structure is located on Magnolia between West 6th and West 7th Avenues.

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Enloe Medical Center is a local, nonprofit health care organization. For more information, please call 530/332-7300 or visit us online at http://www.enloe.org.   Enloe Medical Center is located at 1531 Esplanade Chico, Calif.  95926.