News from the Heart
Summer 2019
|
|
Art with a Heart in Healthcare
provides personalized fine art experiences that enhance the healing process for patients and their families.
|
|
The Day Stay Center of Wolfson Children’s Hospital is designed for children who do not need an inpatient hospital stay but require more than a short office visit. Creating art can be a very important factor in creating a calm environment which encourages healing for these patients.
Artist-in-Residence Lisa Miyares has created a variety of projects specific to this setting, and has been experimenting with using different mediums, including Crayola Model Magic, markers, colored pencils, and watercolor crayons. Lisa has found that what the patients in the Day Stay Center love the most is painting, whether it’s classic tempera paints or shimmering pearlized watercolors. Of course, the subject matter is up to the artist, flowers, animated movie characters, monsters, and yummy desserts have been some of the most popular choices.
|
|
Thank you for everyone who supported our fundraiser to make this Day Stay program a reality!
|
|
"Animal-Gamation" Exhibition on display at MOCA
|
|
This year's annual patient exhibition — "Animal- Gamation" — is now on display at MOCA. " It marks our ninth year of partnership with MOCA.
The exhibition is creatively entitled “Animal-Gamation” — since the AWAHIH artists partnered with patients to create unique Animal-Gamation of different animals! Patients explored their own stories and identities in animal form by creating collages on canvas using paint, sand, feathers, pipe cleaners, gems, and much more. This thoughtful show encouraged introspection, inviting the patients to show some of their personality traits and characteristics by creating their own mythical creatures. Where else can you find animals such as a "Lihena", (pictured top right)? The
"Lihena"
Animal-Gamation, was created by one special patient who combined a lion, (representing her strength and courage) and a hyena (showing her sense of humor). Fifteen other pieces in this exhibition also highlight the amazing qualities of these remarkable patients.
|
|
|
Thank you to everyone who came to the exhibition opening on Sunday, August 11. Artists, family, and friends gathered to enjoy the exhibition, caricature drawings, and refreshments. It was a day filled with smiles, support, a great sense of pride.
|
|
Animal-Gamation opened on August 10, 2019 and will run through December 8, 2019 at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
|
|
"A World of Their Own" on display at The Cultural Center of Ponte Vedra
|
|
L
ast year’s annual patient exhibition — “A World of Their Own” — has been on display around Jacksonville, from its opening at the Museum of Contemporary Art to most recently at The Cultural Center of Ponte Vedra and then to the St. Augustine Library. Now three of the previous years shows have found permanent homes. Two at the One Call building and one at Nemours Children's Specialty Care Clinic on the 10
th
floor. Come see these very special shows, which encouraged the children to illustrate their world beyond the hospital.
|
|
AWAHIH is thrilled to announce another exciting year of partnership with The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation. This wonderful partnership has brought 15 years of art to the patients and families we work with at Nemours Specialty Clinic in the pediatric hematology/oncology unit. Artist in Resident, Brooke loves working with these very special patients and their families.
Thank you, TCJFF for helping families tackle childhood cancer by providing comprehensive financial, emotional, and practical support.
|
|
Brooke helping a family member with her art project at Remembrance Weekend.
|
Lori Presto, AWAHIH, and Rita Malie, TCJFF.
|
|
The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation Remembrance Weekend exists for families who have lost a loved one to cancer and provides them with a weekend of support and fun activities. This year's theme:
"Igniting Light in the Darkness"
|
|
Remembrance weekend has become an annual event for AWAHIH to partner with the TCJFF. This year we provided 140 people in attendance a chance to make their child’s story continue. AWAHIH created a meaningful project for these families. Our artists were invited to create sample paper lanterns which were placed on each table to help inspire the families participating in this art project.
|
|
As our artists worked with the families, musician, Ajamu Mutima, created a relaxing environment with his beautiful music. Artist hugged, laughed, and cried with patients' families as they helped them create lanterns.
|
Father-daughter team, Bob and Heidi Drost, participated in this year's event, creating caricatures for families and loved ones.
|
|
Each family member was given a blank paper lantern which was painted and collaged with special images, beautiful abstract designs, and adorned with pictures of loved ones, creating a meaningful piece that would later be illuminated with tea light candles.
|
|
We thank those who volunteered their time for this event!
We are truly grateful to join The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation
and BE THERE for these courageous families.
|
|
TB Testing / yearly compliance workshop
|
|
The AWAHIH artists met on March 5 to share lunch and talk about upcoming projects, before joining the Annual Compliance Workshop for all hospital volunteers. The workshop was led by Director of Volunteer Services Jeannie Poon. Jeannie covered a wide range of topics in the meeting, including updated information on best practices for keeping viruses from spreading on toys, procedures in an emergency or weather event, and a refresher on the rules regarding personal appearance — all with the goal in mind of promoting safety and health for artists and patients. Everyone completed a written compliance test, as well as the required TB testing.
|
|
Lori Presto Celebrating 15 Years
|
Art in a healthcare setting has a positive impact on everyone from patients and their families to hospital staff. We know that creating art has the power to reduce anxiety, improve mood, and even decrease pain. And if anyone exemplifies the magic of the mission behind Art With a Heart in Healthcare, it is Lori Presto!
When Lori began working with AWAHIH as an intern in 2004 she had completed degrees in Fine Art and Psychology (and she later went on to complete a Master’s degree in Social Work). Fast forward to today, and Lori is now Director of Operations and an Artist-in-Residence for AWAHIH. Over the past 15 years, she has seen the organization grow from three staff artists to more than twelve, while the number of patients served, number of locations served, and awareness of AWAHIH in the community has grown steadily as well. Lori’s belief in how beneficial creativity can be in helping patients relieve stress and heal faster has helped shape the growth of the entire program as well as the awareness of the importance of Arts in Medicine as a whole .
What has been Lori’s favorite part of her job? Her simple answer to that question is, “All of it, really.” Lori says she loves working with the patients and their families, developing those relationships, and using art to improve their stay in the hospital. She also treasures her relationships with the other artists and volunteers in the program. Lori says, “I cannot express to you how many wonderful relationships I have from this career. It is my life.” Over the years, she has made a huge impact on so many, who all know her as a talented and dedicated ray of warm sunshine.
A heartfelt “thank you” to Lori Presto! Congratulations on 15 years, and best wishes for the future!
|
|
Artist-in-Residence Dylan Bauer’s contribution to the ceremony for the new Wolfson Children’s Hospital Critical Care Tower/Baptist Jacksonville entry was truly groundbreaking!
Baptist Health board members and executives, along with Jacksonville elected officials and members of our community, met on May 14 to celebrate the expansion of the NICU and PICU. The project will also include a new safer and more convenient front entrance to Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, and will be completed in early 2021.
Dylan’s painted shovels for the ceremony included images of the different pieces coming together to make the whole project possible. Hospital logos represented planning on the part of the hospital executives and care providers, and symbols such as the Jacksonville Jaguar on a spotted background and the Jacksonville skyline showed the support this project has received from the community. Images children love, such as fish and planets, represented the patients. And a shovel with an image of a heart represented not only Art With a Heart in Healthcare, but the caring and compassion that have inspired every step of the planning in this process.
Thank you, Dylan!
|
|
Congratulations to our own Dylan Bauer, Meredith Sullivan, and Hannah Keats! These talented artists each had art on display in the Pre[serve] Art Exhibition during the month of April. Featuring works inspired by Sawmill Slough Preserve, a 382-acre nature preserve located on the University of North Florida campus, this show illustrated the importance of conservation. Pre[serve] is an academic collaboration of the UNF Environmental Center, Department of Art and Design, Gallery of Art, and Lufrano Intercultural Gallery, and made possible by support from the Cummer Family Foundation.
|
|
Dylan Bauer with his artwork. Meredith Sullivan receiving the alumni award.
|
|
Visiting artist Amy Norrod
|
|
|
|
Amy Norrod, a middle school art teacher from Oceanway Middle School, brought her love for drawing and painting to Wolfson Children's Hospital this summer. She created detailed Van Gogh style flower paintings and drawings with patients.
"Community arts and spreading love for creativity are important aspects of both my art making and teaching philosophies. I believe that artistic expression is an incredibly powerful healing tool that is simultaneously challenging enough to require constant work and practice"
-Amy Norrod
Thank you, Amy for sharing your time and talents with us!
|
|
|
Art across the airwaves
at Wolfson Children's Hospital
|
|
|
|
Artist in residence, Maddie Firestone, brings summer time to the media center this June, with her fun "bugs-in-a-jar" painting broadcast. Patients created their favorite insects by painting a unique variety inside of a jar. This event was broadcasted in Wolfson's Children Hospital televisions so that patients and families could paint along in this instructional and fun session.
"The media show is always a fun time and another great way to connect with our patients. We give step-by-step instructions that can be seen by anyone from their hospital room. It's like a very silly version of the Bob Ross show!"
-Maddie Firestone
|
|
If you are an artist who enjoys helping adults, 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:
Patsy Moore
Pati Merrill
Helen Meatte
Janet Massey
Abagail Santos
Kianna Godoy
Chrissy Granados
Teresa Graham
|
|
Join
Our Team
-Be Part of Our Story-
Foundations, corporations, partners, sponsors, and individual donors who through their generous funding ensure that the children, adults and families we serve have the best staff, volunteers, and art supplies available.
Donations support our growing programs, and we invite you to join our team by making a tax deductible donation.
If you have had a special experience with AWAHIH, go to our website and fill out our "tell us about your experience" survey. We would love to hear your story!
|
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State of Florida.
Registration # CH39925
|
|
Christy Ponder
Executive Director and Artist in Residence
Lori Presto, MSW
Program Director and Artist in Residence
Maddie Firestone
Artist Manager and Artist in Residence
Artists in Residence
Ajamu Mutima
Lisa Miyares
Dylan Bauer
Heidi Drost
Matt Richards
Anne Roberts
Bob Drost
Alexis Audate
Jill Olmo
Brooke McKinney
Meredith Sullivan
|
Board of Directors
Brooks Cannon- Board Chair
Kacey Roache- Secretary
Judy Powell- Treasure
Kacey Roache
Laird
Hillary Whitaker
Casey Andeer
Kerri Carter
Bebe Alexander
Bonnie Hayflic
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
Jennifer Guthrie
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
Sponsors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
