News from the Heart
Summer 2018
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Art with a Heart in Healthcare
provides personalized fine art experiences that enhance the healing process for patients and their families.
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We had a great turn out for our opening reception of
A World of Their Own
at MOCA Jacksonville on Sunday, August, 5.
This is the eighth year we have partnered with MOCA Jacksonville. Each year brings a fresh wave of talent from our pediatric patients. This year’s exhibit sparked bountiful creativity in our patient artists while showing us the child beyond their illness. The question asked, “If you could make your own world, what would it be?”
Patients collaborated with artists in residence to bring out there natural talent and expand their art-making skills. You won’t want to miss this!
The exhibit is open until December, 2 in the Florida Blue Educational Gallery at MOCA Jacksonville.
Thank you to the
Capital Bank
for sponsoring the show.
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Patient artist Corbin at the opening reception of
A World of Their Own
at MOCA Jacksonville
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Corbin is a very creative 11-year-old who loves spending time doing art. He also enjoys playing both the acoustic and electric guitars which his dad began teaching him when he was eight-years-old. When he isn't doing art or playing music Corbin likes skateboarding and watching Monster Trucks, which he believes should be a sport. Corbin chooses to have a Star Wars world because he loves Star Wars. He painted the rebel base on it because rebel alliance ALWAYS wins.
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AWAHIH Teams up with
The Jax Makerspace
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n June, artists Maddie Firestone and Nina Avis were joined with a group of 20 eager artists at Jax Markerspace Gallery in the Main Library of Jacksonville. Our patient exhibit
Another Side Revealed
was featured as part of
Prescribed Expression: Healing Arts of Northeast Florida
exhibit through the end of July. After viewing Another Side Revealed we asked the participant the same question we asked our patients: If you could be anything, go anywhere, do anything, what would it be? In answering this question, each artist rendered their self-portrait as they are and as they would be.
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Another Chance to see Patient Exhibit
ANOTHER SIDE REVEALED
Our patient exhibit
ANOTHER SIDE REVEALED
is now showing at Ponte Vedra Cultural Center, 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and is on display through Sept. 22.
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"Catie Cares" about
Art with a Heart in Healthcare
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If your child has ever received one of our Art-to-bags, it came to them because of a special girl named Catherine Leslie Carter, or "Catie", for those of us who came to know and love her. During her countless hospitalizations at Wolfson Children's Hospital, Catie became close friends with the artist of Art With A Heart in Healthcare
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Our friend, Catie Carter, had one BIG wish..."that every child has the opportunity to create art...especially while in the hospital." Thanks to Catie's inspiration and the help of her family, friends, school, church, and community, Catie's dream came true with Catie Care's Art-to-Go bags.
Catie's mom, Kerri Carter, stopped by our office to deliver supplies for our Art-to-Go bags last month and we were blown away by the generosity of those that contributed to their fundraiser. These supplies will fill a lot of Art-to-Go bags.
Thank you to the Carter family for keeping Catie’s dream alive!
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The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation is a non-profit charity whose mission is to BE THERE for families battling childhood cancer with financial, emotional and practical support.
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 years theme:
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Remembrance weekend has become an annual event for Art with a Heart in Healthcare to partner with the Jay Fund. This year we provided 34 families a chance to help make their child’s story continue. AWAHIH created a meaningful project for these families. Our artists were invited to create sample journals which were placed on each table to help inspire the families participating in this art project.
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Each family member was given a blank journal which was painted and collaged with special images, beautiful abstract designs, and adorned with pictures of loved ones, creating a meaningful keepsakes for family members and a place to help continue their child’s story.
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As our artists worked with the families, musician Ajamu Mutima created a relaxing environment with his beautiful background music. Artist, Bob Drost, worked his way around the room making people laugh and creating his fabulous custom caricatures drawings.
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We can’t thank enough those who volunteered their time for this event including the group of young ladies from Stanton College Preparatory School - Art with a Heart Club.
We are truly grateful to join The Jay Fund
and BE THERE for these courageous families.
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Kids Together Against Cancer (KTAC)
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KTAC and AWAHIH have partnered together since 2014. KTAC is a support group that helps families deal with the cancer diagnosis of a family member. Brooke McKInney, lead artist in residence, wrapped up this school year with a community inspired collaborative art project.
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”For this summer's KTAC workshop, we each painted individual puzzle pieces and then put them together to form a complete KTAC community work of art."
-Artist in Residence Brooke
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Brooke also continued our partnership through KTACs ”Children’s Lives Include Moments of Bravery” (CLIMB) ® Summer Series with a primary goal to educate & empower families to talk openly about a parent or caregiver’s cancer diagnosis in a manner that encourages resilience, hope & bravery in children.
Working alongside licensed clinical social worker Kristin Lothman artist-in residence, Brooke McKinney, created projects for the 4-session summer series where the children were encouraged to express themselves through the art making process. Each session covered a specific topic and related art project which turned out to be a huge success.
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Furthermore, KTAC has even been instrumental in bringing Art with a Heart in Healthcare into Mayo @ Riverside, where experienced artists are working with individuals and their families, who are receiving chemotherapy.
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Second Day Added at St Vincent’s in Riverside
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In November AWAHIH was asked to start our bedside art sessions with patients and their families at the St. Vincent's Medical Center in Riverside and their partnership with The Mayo Cancer Center. It has been a wonderful opportunity for growth and healing for the staff, patients, and their families. In August we added a second day of service and now have two staff artists and a volunteer making visits with patients while they receive treatment.
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Meet our
Board of Directors
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“I am an avid supporter of the arts and have a great passion for Art with a Heart in Healthcare and the amazing program it provides”.
~ Brooks Cannon, AWAHIH Board Chair
Behind the scenes of our organization is a talented group of individuals that give their time and talents to support the mission of Art with a Heart in Healthcare.
Over the summer, we welcomed two additional members to our Board of Directors (BOD), Bebe Alexander and Bonnie Hayflick. We are delighted to have them as part of the AWAHIH team. Another great change to our BOD, major supporter of the arts and longtime Art with a Heart in Healthcare board member, Brooks Cannon, accepted the position of Board Chair.
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Finding Inspiration in the Field of Arts and Health
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Artists in Residence, Maddie Firestone and Sam Solley were given the opportunity to attend The Arts for Health Florida, Creative Caregiving Symposium. This two day symposium focused on caring for caregivers in the military continuum, creative caregiving across the lifespan, and self care. The symposium was located at the Atlantic Center of the Arts in New Smyrna Beach and featured sessions from leaders in the field of Arts in Healthcare in Florida.
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Art across the airwaves
at Wolfson Children's Hospital
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In celebration of Flag Day, Artists Maddie Firestone and Nina Avis presented a patriotic flag theme-painting session at the Wolfson Children’s Media Center. During these sessions some patients are able to join the artists in person to create their masterpieces. Those who couldn’t make it to the Media center watched the broadcast on the TV in their rooms and painted along with the help of artists on each floor. Art with a Heart in Healthcare is giving kids a creative outlet and something fun to look forward to during their stay at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Just in time for the new school year, Artist in Residence Jill Olmo created paintings in true back-to-school fashion live at the Wolfson Children’s Media Center.
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Two of our longtime artists in residence took a bit of personal creative time away from the hospital this summer to work on other creative projects.
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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
Lisa Miyares
Olivia Clemons
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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.
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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
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Christy Ponder
Executive Director and Artist in Residence
Lori Presto, MSW
Program Director and Artist in Residence
Artists in Residence
Ajamu Mutima
Samantha Solley
Matt Richards
Maddie Firestone
Anne Roberts
Bob Drost
Alexis Audate
Jill Olmo
Brooke McKinney
Nina Avis
Meredith Sullivan
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Board of Directors
Brooks Cannon- Board Chair
Kacey Roache- Secretary
Judy Powell- Treasure
Kacey Roache
Laird
Hillary Whitaker
Casey Andeer
Jennifer Guthrie
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
Honorary Trustees
Louise Freshman Brown
Professor University of North Florida
Suzanne Taylor
Community Volunteer
Karen Wolfson
Wolfson Children's Hospital
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Art
with a
Heart
in
Healthcare
Sponsors
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