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# Oncology Foundation home to artistic remedy
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/oncology-foundation-home-to-artistic-remedy/
- Published: 2008-09-12T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T21:00:39.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Health, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By CATHERINE CAIN Special to the Daily Press*

SM BLVD Those waiting for treatment at the Premiere Oncology Foundation will finally have something to look at besides the white, sterile walls of the examination rooms.

The foundation, a cancer research and treatment center allied with St. John’s Hospital, is home to a vast collection of art from local painters, the proceeds of which help raise awareness and money for cancer research.

An exhibition will be held this weekend as part of a project called Art4aCure.

The idea to cover the foundation’s walls with warm and inspiring art came from Rick Pantele, an HIV positive, three-time cancer survivor who proposed the idea while beginning treatments last December for Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Pantele felt the examination rooms needed a little life and suggested decorating them with works by local artists.

Now the Foundation’s walls are filled constantly with hundreds of pieces of art.

The use of art fit perfectly with the mission of the foundation, which provides holistic care for its patients, friends and family.

By providing patients with psychosocial services, the foundation addresses the many other issues that are not always physical that come along side of cancer, said executive director of the foundation, Robbie Gluckson.

“Cancer patients — many of them — suffer in silence,” Gluckson said. Integrating art and healing takes the sterile, cold, hospital feeling away from the center and brings those affected by cancer — both patients and loved ones — together as a community.

The Premiere Oncology Foundation was built and furnished with that purpose in mind.

“We wanted to create something that was warm and comforting and modern,” said Gluckson, who has referred many visitors of the foundation to the vendors of the furniture and decorations, and she notes that some patients come back to visit even after their treatment is over.

So when Pantele suggested Art4aCure, there was no question about putting it into action. The project would further contribute to the foundation’s feeling of home and would act as a fundraiser for cancer research, Gluckson said.

The foundation’s first art show was this past July.

“It has accomplished more than I ever expected, as it brings so many smiles and positive energy to everyone involved,” Pantele said. “I am humbled daily by the outreach of so many artists, sponsors and volunteers who have made it all come to fruition.”

Rosen is a cancer specialist who first met Pantele over 10 years ago at UCLA. He has been involved with Pantele’s care ever since. He founded the Premiere Oncology Foundation in 2006, realizing cancer patients, their caretakers, and their families all need psychosocial services that were not being attended to.

“As with many patients struck with cancer, Rick has dreamed of giving back to the community and helping others fighting cancer,” Rosen said. “He has taken his expertise in the art world, connections with the artists themselves and his understanding of what cancer patients are going through to guide him.”

About 75 to 85 percent of the paintings are already up on the foundation’s walls, and truckloads more will arrive for the exhibit today.

“It’s really a Herculean effort,” said Gluckson.

One or two pieces are sold every week. New pieces are being brought in all the time.

The first thing a patient does at the foundation is have their blood drawn. To ease their nervousness and fear, large and inspiring pieces of art are placed in that area. Magestic watercolors are hung in infusion and chemotherapy areas, all in an effort to curb patients’ worrying.

“The art gives the strong message that cancer should not be life consuming but life affirming,” Rosen said.

Visitors in the past have come to the foundation simply to view the art, without any medical or familial purpose, and the foundation offers tours of the art-work.

The event this weekend is to give the Santa Monica community another chance at seeing the art on display, as many people are on vacation during the summer, which is when the last exhibit was held.

Admission is free and parking is complimentary. Today, the doors are open from 5:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. On Saturday doors are open from 7 p.m. — 10 p.m. Over 300 paintings will be on display, as well as sculptures and live music. Many of the artists will be available to meet with and talk to, and some artists will create their art live.

A portion of the proceeds of artwork go to IncredibleArtist, Pantele’s art gallery in Palm Springs, and to the Premiere Oncology Foundation.

There is also an ongoing online auction through Oct. 1, and all proceeds from there will go to the foundation.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 12, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091208.pdf?ref=smdp.com)