The Rabbit Project:
365 Porcelain wall-hanging bunnies to benefit brain cancer research
In March 2019, sculptor Amber Aguirre’s daughter Kailei was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After a craniotomy to remove the tumor, it began regrowing a year later. Due to its location near her speech and vision centers, further surgery was not an option, and chemo or radiation were ruled out because of a genetic mutation (POT1) that could trigger secondary cancer. Kailei’s only hope is a drug that halts tumor growth, but research is needed to prevent the tumor from adapting to the treatment. In an effort to help, Amber created “The Rabbit Project”—inspired by Kailei's love of rabbits and the 2023 Chinese “Year of the Rabbit.” The project raises funds for brain cancer research at UCLA’s Lai Labs, where Dr. Albert Lai is studying Kailei’s specific type of tumor. The porcelain rabbits, which were showcased at a solo exhibition at the Natsoulas Center for the Arts in Davis, CA, are still available for purchase, with all proceeds going to support this vital research.
