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| Vol. 25, No. 6 |
| April 1, 2003 |
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Healing Strokes By LAURA FRNKA Texas Children’s Hospital For outpatients in Texas Children’s Cancer Center, hope and healing is found through a few strokes of a paintbrush and the generous hearts of a few volunteers. On Tuesday mornings, children faced with a life-threatening diseases can escape from doctors and therapy into their own imaginary worlds created by watercolors. Members of the Watercolor Artist Society of Houston, known as WASH, donate their time and talent, as well as high-quality arts supplies, to the Texas Children’s Cancer Center Arts in Medicine program. “WASH provides a few hours for kids to enjoy a break from the hospital routine and just be kids,” said Lillian Warren, a WASH volunteer. “When children are having fun, they are so enjoyable and it’s such a delight to see their artistic voices shine through in their paintings.” Warren, a WASH volunteer for almost two years, is an artist by trade and paints abstract pieces in addition to her full-time job. She was looking for an outlet to volunteer and the Arts in Medicine program seemed like the perfect opportunity. “Programs like Arts in Medicine make the hospital experience more positive and uplifting,” said Warren. “It’s a joy to share this experience with these children.” Artists help patients and their siblings explore the art of watercolors by teaching several painting techniques. The more than 30 volunteers come from various backgrounds - some are retired artists or professional artists and others paint for pleasure. Some portrait artists will do quick sketches of children waiting in the clinic, while others spend hours working on detailed portraits of children undergoing cancer treatment. “Texas Children’s Cancer Center is fortunate to have WASH members volunteer their time. They enrich and touch the lives of our patients and families in ways they will never know,” said Carol Herron, program coordinator for the Arts in Medicine program at Texas Children’s. “Activities like painting with watercolors allow these sick children to take back some control they’ve lost in their lives as a result of having cancer or a blood disorder.” Key components of the Arts in Medicine program include participatory art education, hands-on art activities, guest and performing artist series, and local, regional and national outreach. For more information on the Arts in Medicine program at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, visit www.texaschildrenshospital.org/cancer.
©2006 Texas Medical Center E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/04_01_03/page_15.html |