Cardiovascular disease has long been ranked the number one cause of death in the United States. Yet, increasing numbers of Americans are diagnosed and treated for cardiac and vascular disease each year. With National Heart Month approaching, Northwestern’s Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute began considering how to raise awareness about the importance of keeping the heart healthy. And so came the idea for “Hearts a Bluhm.”
Throughout February, 100 creatively decorated hearts are “bluhming” on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, from the Chicago River to 900 North Michigan Avenue. The display combines public art, a celebrated tradition in Chicago, with education to call attention to heart health and to provide passersby with tips on how to be heart healthy and prevent heart disease.
Cardiologist Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, MD, explained his passion for the campaign’s message: “There’s one heart attack every 25 seconds in this country and somebody dies from heart disease every minute. So it’s a really important message.”
Experts at Northwestern’s Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute partnered with students, faculty, staff and alumni artists from Columbia College Chicago who brought the hearts to life with their creativity. The hearts, each standing at 5 feet and 3 inches, began “bluhming” on Michigan Avenue on February 1 -- “Hearts a Bluhm Day” -- as proclaimed by the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois.
It all began with 3,500 square feet of red acrylic that was manufactured into heart shapes and 25,000 pounds of cement formed into bases. Of particular concern was making sure that the 45-pound hearts attached to 250-pound bases would withstand Chicago’s often-brutal winter storms. Decorated hearts were offered for sponsorship with donations benefiting the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute and student scholarships at Columbia College.
Many of the Columbia College students who took part in the project had already been touched by heart disease. On his heart, student Bill Coon penned text from his book “Swim,” an autobiography about the successful heart and kidney transplant he received through the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute in 2009. The Center for Heart Failure at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute sponsored his heart.
Another student found a “heart connection” while the project was underway. After she submitted her sketches, student Allison Shiman altered her original design when she learned that her father had been diagnosed with a heart condition. She painstakingly painted a replica of her father’s EKG on the outside rim of her heart and dedicated her piece to him.
The Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks and Bears sponsored team-themed hearts as part of the campaign. Several Cubs players personally visited the Hearts a Bluhm studio to sign their heart during their annual Cubs Caravan stop to visit patients and their families at Northwestern Memorial.
The Brickman Group, a landscaping company, was among many businesses to donate services, time, money, materials and space to support the Hearts a Bluhm campaign. Brickman donated the services to install and remove the 100 hearts on display. Other sponsors included the Shops at North Bridge, Vedder Price, Busch Plastics and DS303. The Home Depot donated exterior paint and a clear, glossy sealant that includes UVA to protect the artwork from the sun and elements.
Many businesses sponsored hearts. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc., for example, sponsored five hearts that were creatively embellished with some of its restaurant themes. Lettuce Entertain You also helped to launch the Hearts a Bluhm Campaign by hosting more than 250 Chicago corporate, civic and community leaders last October at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab where the idea for the unique public art and heart health display was announced.
Chicago’s First Lady, Maggie Daley, was among the guests to attend the Hearts a Bluhm kick-off celebration on the fourth floor of Neiman Marcus, which co-hosted the celebration with Michigan Avenue Magazine.
Lyn McKeaney from the Lodge Management Group sponsored three hearts, including this one that she had commissioned for Mayor Richard and Maggie Daley. Attendees watched artist Elliot From paint the heart during the kick-off event.
Students spent long hours in the design studio transforming their sketches to public art. It was not only an exercise in creativity for them, but also one that helped them understand how public art can focus attention and convey a powerful message. The Columbia College students, teachers and alumni created 68 of the hearts – then celebrated their contribution to heart health awareness at the kick-off event.
Northwestern physicians, surgeons, scientists and staff from more than 35 clinical areas where care and service is provided to heart and vascular patients enthusiastically visited the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute’s heart to decorate it with a personal signature or a colorful palm print to help say, “Thank you for putting your heart in our hands.”
The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute was created in 2004 with the help of a generous endowment from Neil G. Bluhm, a prominent real estate developer and alumnus of Northwestern University. He is joined in the picture here by cardiac surgeon Patrick M. McCarthy, MD, director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.
Superior outcomes for patients supported by a commitment to clinical innovation, research and medical education distinguish the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, whose heart and heart surgery program is ranked 14th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Darren “Dop” Troutman was treated by specialists at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute for a series of heart attacks and blocked arteries when he was 39. Currently 44, Troutman made lifestyle changes at the suggestion of his physician that have added years to his life.
“I hope this campaign gets people to stop and look at the hearts and consider their health," said Troutman. “Anything that gets people to think about their heart health, even for a minute, is very powerful.”
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