Artist's Work Featured on Holiday Card

The Holidays are upon us, and to help bolster the cheerful tone of the season, Dana Farber Cancer Institute is now selling a collection of holiday cards, candles and noraments to support adult and pediatric care and research. 

Among the 12 different designs and greetings in the 2011 card collection is one created by Westwood native Kalim Saliba. 

Saliba's card, titled "City Tree in Faneuil Hall Marketplace," features a design of the 75-foot Christmas Tree on display in the Boston venue. The words "Brighten the holiday with joy" line the inside of the card as well. 

"I think that the artwork itself is a really cheerful piece to use for a holiday card," Saliba said. "The image chosen uses a technique called HDR (high dynamic range), which gives it a very surreal and bright feeling."

Saliba first became involved with the holiday card program in 2006 as a way to give back to the community. Arnold Worldwide, an advertising agency, reached out to him, asking to use a photograph he'd taken for use in the Dana Farber collection.

"I suggested a few categories of photographs and they chose what they liked," Saliba said. "I was happy to offer them the photograph because of the cause. I think the idea behind what they are doing is great."

But the program also recently hit Saliba close to home. As recently as this week, a member of Saliba's extended family was diagnosed with cancer and visited Dana Farber for treatment recommendations. 

"The timing of everything is somewhat eerie," he said. "This year, even more than others, having a holiday card with  my photo on it is very important to me, even without any recognition. Knowing that people not only enjoy my art, but will also be giving to a world-renowned cancer institute, an institute which just helped a family member of mine, is a pretty powerful feeling."

Saliba now sells images on his own personal website, as well as through Getty Images. 

More info on Saliba's card can be found at JimmyFundHoliday.org.