Arts For Life Durham 2011 CHAPTER REPORT
2011
C hapter R eport
Spring 2012
2011 was a big year for Arts For Life!
Ten years ago in 2001, Arts For Life began with one patient, one camera, and an unshakable belief in the healing power of art. Since that humble beginning, we have grown into a multichapter organization serving more than 5,000 young patients and family members each year at four hospitals throughout North Carolina. Today, we celebrate Arts For Life’s mission of providing educational art programs that enrich patients’ lives, nurture their minds and spirits, and encourage positive healthcare experiences for children and their families. We honor the young patients with whom we have been privileged to work, and draw inspiration every day from their examples of creativity, imagination, and courage. And we thank you for your steadfast support and friendship to our community’s patients and families during the most challenging times of their lives. Thank you for sharing this journey with Arts For Life. Here’s to the next 10 years!
Shea Godwin Executive Director
Arts For life By the numbers In 2011, Arts For Life brought 2,404 hours of art, music, and creative writing to the Triangle’s children and families in need. That’s over 46 hours each week! Our dedicated and creative team of staff, volunteers, and interns taught 3,145 individual lessons to 636 young patients, siblings, and family members. Program Director Mary Margaret and young artist Laya
Arts For Life Arts For Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people facing serious illnesses. By providing educational art programs, we enrich patients’ lives, nurture their minds and spirits, and encourage positive healthcare experiences for children and their families. Arts For Life serves children in four cities across North Carolina: Durham, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, and Asheville.
The Arts STAFF
For Life DUrham
Team BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shea Godwin Executive Director
Doug Michaels Chair John Dickson Treasurer Anne Sessions Secretary
Mary Margaret Fulk Program Director Rachel Zink Assistant Director Snee Howard Bookkeeper Dawna Wade Administrative Assistant
TEACHING VOLUNTEERS
INTERNS
Carol Mitchell
Emily Simpson
Jan Cumberworth
Mackenzie Calligar
Becky Anderson Karen Fitzgerald Deborah Goeken
Leigh Thomason
Melandee Jones
Katie Aiello
Wes Sugg
Arts For Life in Durham
Arts For Life runs successful outpatient art tables, inpatient bedside art lessons, art groups for kids, and special events at Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center.
Valvano Day Hospital and
4
th Floor Clinics & waiting room: Patients and families come to the VDH for their outpatient procedures, like infusions, chemotherapy, and pre- and post-transplant care. The 4th Floor Clinics are home to the following specialties: Hematology/Oncology (blood diseases and cancer), Bone Marrow Transplant, Allergy/Immunology, and Neuro-Oncology. AFL teachers provide one-on-one lessons in clinic rooms as well as lessons at art tables in the VDH and waiting room.
Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (PBMT):
Every Wednesday afternoon, Arts For Life holds an art group on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Young patients call the PBMT Unit home for a minimum of four to six weeks at a time, as they prepare for or recover from transplants. The chance to get out of their rooms and share quality time with other kids going through the same experience is invaluable for these patients.
Inpatient Units 5100 & 5300:
Interns and volunteers have helped AFL expand programming at Duke in 2011 by working with children who must stay overnight in the hospital, sometimes for weeks at a time. AFL teachers bring exciting, dynamic art projects to children’s bedsides and work with them one-on-one.
In addition to regular daily programming, AFL supports, plans, and implements support groups and special events designed to help young patients navigate their healthcare experience and life. Every summer, Arts For Life brings an art component to Camp Kaleidoscope, open to kids of all ages who are facing - or have faced - a serious illness. And once a year, brothers and sisters of young patients are in the spotlight on S.I.B.S. Day (Special and Important Brothers and Sisters), when AFL offers an art experience designed to honor the siblings’ unique journeys.
Just when I can’t distract my child any longer from the reality of chemotherapy, Arts For Life comes along and invites us into their magical world. It is a world full of light, color, texture, sparkles, and love. The Arts for Life program gives our child and our family an opportunity to focus on creating something instead of always concentrating on destroying something (the tumor). We can’t imagine our chemo clinic life without it.” - Cheryl Kilpatrick, mother of Maggie
Kaylin and Julia
Spotlight on: Kaylin and Julia Written by AFL Durham Program Director Mary Margaret Fulk
Every now and then, as teachers we get to witness something that makes us take a step back and say, “Yes - this is why we’re here. This is why we do what we do.” For me, that moment happened in November of 2011, as two girls sat together and created artwork at the art table in the Valvano Day Hospital at Duke University Medical Center.
“I’m tired of being sick.” “Me, too!” This was the start of the conversation between Julia and Kaylin as they met each other for the first time. Each girl (unbeknownst to the other) was being worked up for a Bone Marrow Transplant. The first few minutes of their encounter were filled with silence, as each girl was focused on the painting project at hand. Then slowly, the girls began to introduce themselves. They discovered that they were the same age, both from Virginia, both loved art and both were about to receive a Bone Marrow Transplant within a week or so of each other on the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant unit at Duke University Medical Center. While on the unit, Kaylin and Julia came out of their rooms for group art most weeks. One day, I stopped by Kaylin’s room to see if she was ready to do art. She wasn’t feeling well and didn’t know if she wanted to come out. I casually mentioned that Julia was coming to art, and within 10 minutes, Kaylin was out of her room and creating art with her friend Julia. Spending time at the art table isn’t really about turning kids into the next Picasso. For Julia and Kaylin, time at the art table was a chance to connect with a new friend. It’s about process over product. Yes, every day we witness patients and families create works of art that are completely stunning. But more importantly, every day we see how creating art, and having a space that is completely safe and open is good for the soul. Sometimes, patients chat while they make art, sometimes they don’t; but just sitting beside another person who is going through the same experience makes you feel connected. It makes you feel less alone, because maybe - just maybe - there is one other person in this world who can understand what you’re going through. Giving patients a creative outlet is a conversation starter, a relationship builder, and at the end of the day, it’s what truly makes them smile. That’s what it’s about. Those are the “aha!” moments, and watching those moments unfold between Julia, Kaylin, and their families makes me proud to walk alongside them in their journey.
L to R: Gabby working on “Fancy Panda;” Volunteer Leigh with Fantaisa; Zach at the art table
The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild
The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild, led by Penny Arrowood, supported Arts For Life in many ways in 2011. Some of AFL Durham’s most dedicated and talented volunteers came to us from the CMMAG, and in the fall of 2011, the Guild spearheaded a 2012 Calendar Project. The calendar, featuring artwork from kids in AFL Durham’s program, was designed and printed by the Guild, and Guild members sold the calendar all over town and donated the proceeds to AFL. We thank these talented artists for believing in the healing power of art and supporting our work with young patients and families!
Arts For Life
Art Show!
Inspired Artwork from the Young Artists In Arts For Life’s Programs
From top left, clockwise: “Wish,” by Mary Katelyn, age 19; “Punchbug,” by Henrique, age 11 ; “Leaf,” by Justin, age 12; “Camouflage Bear,” by Gabby, age 13; “Crazy Hair Day,” by Benjamin, age 8; “The Crazzey Tree,” by Marissa, age 7; Jason, Haley, and Dakota at the art table; “The Princess Maggie of Different Colors,” by Maggie, age 5; “Sunset,” by Drew, age 13
“The Arts for Life Program at Duke is treasured by the PBMT patients, their families, and the entire staff. When kids arrive at the PBMT clinic, the first question many of them ask is “Can I go see Mary Margaret?” She provides them with creative, age-appropriate, and therapeutic art activities to help make their time at clinic more enjoyable.
The AFL team truly makes my patients’ clinic days better, and that is a wonderful medicine.” - Dr. Kristin Page, MD, Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Duke University Medical Center
AFL Durham’s volunteers and interns Mary Margaret says: Recently, I caught up with a patient just as she was about to be admitted to the inpatient unit for a few days. She was upset about missing time at the art table in clinic. I remembered that AFL intern Emily would be at the hospital in a few hours, so I asked the patient if she wanted Emily to come visit with her and do some art. A huge smile stretched across her face as she shrieked, “Emily?! I love Emily!” She then proceeded to do a song and dance about doing art with Emily. Arts For Life volunteers and interns are teachers who excite, inspire and uplift the patients they encounter on a daily basis. The skills we teach and the art that patients and families create goes way beyond something that they can take home or display in their hospital rooms. Arts For Life teachers build relationships Sandhana and intern Emily that, in the midst of stress, fear, and anxiety, bring great joy to patients. Every day, stories of hope and courage are painted onto canvases, folded into origami boxes, and sculpted into superheroes. Every day, a child feels just a little better about coming to the hospital to get medicine, because they know their favorite AFL teacher - or teachers - will be there waiting for them with art and open arms. Carol Mitchell joined the AFL Durham volunteer team in 2011: “I don’t think there are enough superlatives to describe the Arts for Life program and how meaningful it is for patients and their families. Because I believe it is so important, I felt a need to volunteer my time to ‘give back’... The art table not only gives kids the opportunity to express themselves and create a masterpiece they can take home, but it might be the only time that day they are in charge of the outcome, and the pride they take in their work is heart-warming.” “The Arts For Life volunteers at Duke are so wonderful with our family. We try to keep all of our kids with us while our son, Nathan, has cancer treatment each week. Our kids so look forward to seeing Ms. Carol in the waiting room and the new projects she has for them each week. From the first time she met our family, she memorized all of our kids’ names and interests and makes a point to ask about things that are important to them. “ ~Dawn Norman, mother of Nathan
Carol, Nathan (L) and his siblings, Sarah, Tabitha, and Matthew
“AFL is so much more than art projects. Arts For Life is...
…the instant smile you see when a child steps off the elevator and sees you sitting at the art table. …seeing the imagination and creativity of each child that makes their project their own. …hearing a child say to Mom, “Look what I made!” …a child naming the alligator she’s painting “Allie the Allergy Alligator,” so he can “take care” of her allergies. …the hug you get when a child gets halfway to the elevator and runs back to say goodbye.” - Carol Mitchell
Volunteers &
interns gave
533
hours of their time to kids & families at Duke Hospital in 2011!
AFL’s tenth Anniversary
Portrait
Project
In early 2011, the Program Directors from each chapter put their creative heads together and decided on a special portrait project, to which kids from all four chapters would contribute. Self-portraits are a favorite project among AFL patients, families, and teachers; they are a fun and insightful way to learn new artistic skills, express creativity, and tell personal stories. Program Director Mary Margaret Fulk guided nine patients in creating 5”x5” portraits, which later were “quilted” onto a canvas to create a collaborative art piece. This special original artwork was auctioned off at the Fancy Pants Dance in November, with all the proceeds going to benefit our art programs at Duke. We thank all the young artists of AFL for contributing to this unique project!
Fancy Pants Dance! On November 5, Durham party-goers were decked out in their Fanciest Pants to raise money for Arts For Life’s programs. The Fancy Pants Dance at the Durham Convention Center featured dinner, drinks, dancing to music from DJ Greg Ramsey, a Live and Silent Auction, a special 10-year anniversary video debut, and, of course, a Most Fanciful Pants contest! “We were excited to share Arts For Life with members of the Durham community, old friends and new” says Arts For Life Executive Director Shea Godwin. “The Fancy Pants Dance was a fun, whimsical way to raise funds that support and enrich the minds, hearts, and spirits of thousands of young patients struggling with serious illnesses and disabilities. More than 100 community members came to see the kids’ artwork, hear the stories, and be part of bringing top-notch art and music programs to these special children and their families.” The Fancy Pants Dance raised $3,000 for AFL’s educational art programs. The Dance was made possible with the support of Cardinal Health, Kerr Cares For Kids Foundation, Alexander Mihaljov, the Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild, Jewelsmith, the Morrisville Rotary Club, Dale Fulk, and the Bingham family. A special thanks to the Fancy Pants Dance Planning Committee, without whom the evening would not have happened: Event Chair Debbie Goeken, Mary Margaret Fulk, Debbie Twardy, Cam Lopes, Patty McEwen, Tricia Schaeffer, Julie Ball, Sherry Richards, Elise Hindes, Bernadette Knight, Mason Nichols, Carol Mitchell, Julianne Rogers, and Cindy Domann.
new in
2011:
the arts for life
keepsake collection art prints
notecards
Did You Know? Our educational art programs: • Utilize art stations, art teachers, and art lessons to transform and improve healthcare environments; • Provide hospitalized and seriously ill children access to the arts and education; • Help young patients and their families cope with short and long term effects of illness; • Give patients opportunities to interact with peers (other patients and siblings); • Foster patients’ imaginations, critical thinking skills, and creativity;
...and more! In 3 sizes, ready to frame!
see the entire collection:
keepsake.aflnc.org
• Help patients to set and achieve goals; • Guide patients in focusing on positive activities during waiting times and during stressful experiences; • Provide positive educational experiences that add a sense of purpose and accomplishment to children’s lives.
Thank You! To the People
Who Made Our Work Possible In 2011 Our deepest appreciation goes to our friends at Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center. With the hospital’s support, Arts For Life works to bring peace, light, and laughter to young patients on their darkest days. We could not accomplish our work without the support of Edith Rosenblatt, the Kids Care Grant Committee, Kevin Sowers, Kristen Ammon and the dedicated healthcare professionals at Duke University Medical Center and Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center.
We send our heartfelt thanks to our friends, community partners, and sponsors: All-American Athletic Association Auxiliary to AANC Malinda Beamer Cardinal Health Foundation Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild Cheap Joe’s Kathy and Dean Chennell Michael Crane Franklin Academy Debbie and Albert Goeken Hillsborough Kiwanis Club Jewelsmith
Varuun
For more info on
Arts For Life:
Maggie
Kerr Cares for Kids Foundation Eva J. Mettrey Alexander Mihajlov Molly Hawkins House Morrisville Rotary Club New York Community Foundation Sandra Sully Striving For More Yvonne and Clayton Treska Wells Fargo and many more...
Suhani
How You Can Help: Make a donation to sustain our vital arts programming Host a Coffee Talk or a House Party to share your support with friends Volunteer at Duke, teaching art to young patients Organize a Cakes For Kids Bake Sale to benefit Arts For Life Contact us today to find out about opportunities to get involved!
Jaxsen
CONTACT arts for life
info@a
flnc.or
828-65
8-1599
g
!
Scan with your Smartphone!
Cover artwork: “Dog,” by Jacey, age 9