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Spring 2016 
News from the Heart 
Art with a Heart in Healthcare provides personalized fine art experiences that enhance the healing process for patients and their families. 
The Art of Giving
 

One of these beautiful bracelets is on its way to a beloved Abuela (Grandmother) in Peru.  
The teen that made these spent an extended period of time on the 5th floor at Wolfson Children's hospital. Artist-in-Residence, Anne, made a connection with this teen, despite them growing up on different continents.  On this particular visit the teen wanted to make a gift to send to her grandmother because she was missing her.  

Behind each patient's room door, there is a different story and set of circumstances.  Some patients stay only a day while others may be in the hospital for weeks or even months at a time.  When an artist enters a child's room, they look beyond the I.V. poles and heart rate monitors.  They connect with a child from a humanistic perspective, the whole person, beyond their diagnosis.  

Kids giving to Kids!

Love was in the air this past Valentines Day as children on the 5th and 6th floor of Wolfson's received Valentines art from children at 
St. Marks Episcopal Day School in Jacksonville.  Each art piece was customized with a patient's name and hung on their doors. 
 
A big thank you to J acksonville Country Day School  for donating Art-to-go bags for our patient artists.  Art-to-go bags are a great way to keep a bedside art session going even after the artist-in-residence leaves.   


Volunteers

 We are proud to welcome our new volunteers  Traci Jones and Amanda Towner.   Welcome to the team!  

If you are an artist who enjoys helping children and families discover their creativity, we encourage you to join our volunteer team.  We have open opportunities seven days a week.  Our volunteers represent all ages and sectors of the community.  For more detailed information, please see our Volunteer page on our website. 

Art with a Heart is grateful for the selfless 
devotion of our volunteers.
 
Wolfson Children's Hospital
 
Patsy Moore
Pati Merrill
Karen Flautt
Rachel Smith
Alexis Audate
Jennifer Guthrie
Katherine Cox
Jessica Smoleroff
Justin Hamilton
Traci Jones
Amanda Towner
 
 
Ronald McDonald House
 
Todd Rykaczewsji
Alicia Smith
Jordanne Ryan
Lee Durban

 
Volunteer Spotlight
 Art with a Heart in Healthcare Volunteer
Amanda Towner
I really wanted to find a volunteer experience where I worked in a hospital setting with an art and h ealing program.  After researching and contacting several hospitals, I was referred to Art With a Heart because it matched my hope for my volunteer experience. 
Art really impacted my college experience. I found that I needed art to find myself again, because I became lost in my college life with who I was and who I wanted to become. I want to help others find themselves in their art, no matter what they are going through, so that art can be used to re-center and help cope with the world around them.
It is so wonderful to be able to give someone something that I made, and to make them happy with what I can do. I feel like my purpose in life has been fulfilled, and I cannot wait to  draw more pictures for these children.
On my first day, I drew a picture of Elsa for a young girl. I walked in to the room with the intent to hang it on the wall immediately. But she didnt want it to be hung, she wanted to hold it. That small moment made me realize how much I impacted her stay in the hospital, because I could see how much the drawing meant to her. She didn't want to let it go.
Thank you, Amanda for sharing your time and talent with us!!!

In The Community



S ince its original opening last August at MOCA Jacksonville our patient exhibit, U NMASKED has been moving around town.  Sponsored by the First Tennessee foundation the exhibit opened last Friday with a reception at The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra.  The show will be on display through May 27th and the center is located at  50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. 

The Gallery is open  Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm and Saturday from 10:00am - 4:00pm (closed 11am - 2pm for Open Studio)


Unmasked is an exhibition presented by Art with a  Heart in Healthcare. Patients in the program collaborated with an artist-in-residence who brings out their natural talents and expands their art-making skills while promoting self-confidence and self-awareness during their hospital experience. 

Stellers of Ponte Vedra Beach

Stellers Gallery in Ponte Vedra Beach hosted a benefit evening for Art with a Heart in Healthcare with a private preview artists reception for their spring art exhibition. 
  Hue is a celebration of the bold and playful ways that color enriches our walls and our spirits.  Hue features works by acclaimed artists Michelle Armas, Shawn Meharg, Enrique Mora, and Steve Williams. 


Four pieces of artwork by each featured artist were raffled as a fundraiser to benefit  Art With A Heart in Healthcare and over $4000 was raised!

Thank you to Stellers Gallery, the participating artists, and those that attended for their support.  





Foundations, corporations, partners, sponsors and individual donors who through their generous funding ensure that the children have the best staff, volunteers and art supplies available. Donations support our growing programs and we invite you to join our team.
  
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Art with a Heart Team


Christy Ponder
Executive Director
Artist in Residence

Lori Presto, MSW
Program Director
Artist in Residence
 
Ajamu Mutima
Artist in Residence
Wolfson Children's Hospital
 
Cheryl Borja
Artist in Residence
Wolfson Children's Hospital
 
Samantha Solley
Artist in Residence
Wolfson Children's Hospital
 
Laura Meier
Artist in Residence
Wolfson Children's Hospital & Kids Together Against Cancer
 
Matt Richards
Artist in Residence
Wolfson and Ronald McDonald House
 
Maddie Firestone
Artist in Residence
Wolfson and Ronald McDonald House
 
Korey Cunningham
Artist in Residence
Wolfson and Nemours
 
Anne Roberts
Artist in Residence
Wolfson and Neumors
 
Bob Drost
Artist in Residence
Neumors

Art with Heart in Healthcare 
 everyday of the week!!!

 
With the addition of two service days in the Emergency Department, Art with a Heart now operates seven days a week at Wolfson Children's Hospital. 

A big thank you to the  Cummer Family Foundation sponsorship that allows Art with Heart in Healthcare to be in the emergency room two days a week.  

 Seven days a week our talented team of staff artists, community volunteers and interns from the University of North Florida develop sessions individualized to meet the needs of patients and families at bedside or in groups. Together we create art that helps to reclaim the child from the illness.

Art with a Heart in Healthcare extends our appreciation to all the  philanthropic organizations, businesses and individuals who supported our mission. The success of our programs would not be possible without you.

Family Workshop at Neumors
 
Nemours Children's Clinic recently hosted a workshop for family members which was facilitated by Artist Laura  Meier thanks to sponsorship from The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation that helps families tackle childhood cancer.   

Intern News
We would like to Thank our Winter Interns Jillian Olmo, Nina Avis, Nicole Bevilacqua, and Brooke McKinney for their great work with our patients and families.

As part of their curriculum UNF interns concluded their semester by creating  art pieces that sum up their experience working with Art with a Heart in Healthcare.   

Nina Avis

Nicole Bevilacqua

Brooke McKinney
 
Art Across the Airwaves
Artist in Residence: Maddie Firestone

With an average of 20% of patients every day in isolation, meaning they are unable to leave there room, the Media Center in the main lobby at Wolfson Children's Hospital became the television studio for art sessions.  Teaming up with the Wolfson Child Life team, we had the opportunity  to reach patients  in a new and exciting way through the use of this awesome technology.  A few kids who were able, came down to the lobby to join in the fun as well as those who were in the waiting area.    The broadcasts included a painting session, with step by step instructions, lead by artists Maddie and Matt and a follow along fun 3-D drawing lesson with artist Bob Drost, also known as Mr D. 
The response was great and we look forward to creating more opportunities like this in the future.


Artist in Residence: Bob Drost (Mr D)



"Painting gives me this relaxed and calm feeling and my emotions can let go. Art is my emotional support during extremely stressful times like the one I am experiencing now."

-Aaron, Age 17




 
Patient Artwork
"Untitled"


"Untitled"

"Untitled"


"Untitled"


"Jamie's Feet"



Bedside Cartooning


A Get Well Wish from a Brother

 

Sponsors

Art with a Heart in Healthcare extends our appreciation to the many philanthropic organizations, businesses and individuals who support our mission. The success of our programs would not be possible without you. 

         




                     






 LAROSE Foundation

 

  Board of Directors
 

Jennifer Guthrie- Board Chair

Brooks Cannon- Secretary

Judy Powell- Treasure

Laird

Kacey Roache

Hillary Whitaker

 
 
Board of Advisors
 
Lori Guadagno ~ Co-founder
Lisa Ullmann ~ Co-founder
Robert Monsky
Cynthia Jacoby Greene
Katherine Loeb
Sam Hall
Guy Cuddihee
Kathy Soler-Sala
Melissa Roland
Cindy Meide
 
 
Honorary Trustees
 
Louise Freshman Brown
Professor University of North Florida
 
Suzanne Taylor
Community Volunteer
 
Karen Wolfson
Wolfson Children's Hospital


Art with a Heart
in Healthcare
841 Prudential Drive, Suite 150
Jacksonville, Florida 32207


(904) 306-0390