The Zone’s Teen Art & Literary Magazine Fall 2021
Artwork by Ashley Rosario, 20
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Artwork by Kaylynn Jayme, 14
Fall 2021
Editor-in-Chief
Christina Auriemma Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator
Executive Editor
Diane Rode Senior Director, Patient and Family Centered Care Director, Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department
Founding Editor
Lu Borges Patient Technology & Media Administrator and KidZone TV Production Supervisor Thanks to Russell Mindich and family, and to the staff of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department of Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital
Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital
Russell Mindich
Guest Teen Editor Estrellita Pacheco
Art Directors
Social Media Producer
Jaclyn Craig Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator Jeremy Martin Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator Katherine Parker Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator
1184 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10029 212-241-6797 mountsinai.org/childlife
*Publication template by Melissa Alvey, former Art Therapy Intern
Interested in contributing to our next issue of REFLECTIONS? Send creative writing, art, and audio submissions to Christina ii Auriemma, our Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator: christina.auriemma@mountsinai.org
Be sure to check out the multimedia files featured in this issue! Throughout this issue you’ll hear contributors read their poetry and play music. You can also view more artwork!
How? There are 2 ways! 1. Use your smart phone’s camera to scan the QR codes featured on a page. 2. Download any QR code reading app and scan the QR codesby using your phone’s camera.
Scan here to view the entire issue online and to view past issues!
Scan this QR code to explore this issue’s entire multimedia playlist!
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Table of Contents Cover art by Ashley Rosario
11 “Two Extremes” by Kayla Collins
1 REFLECTIONS Fall 2021 multimedia playlist
12 Artwork by Kelly Giordana 13 Artwork by Kelly Giordana
2 Table of Contents 3 Artwork by Sophia Tavolacci
14 “The Song for Grace” by Tyanna Tolbert
4 Letter from Christina, Editor in Chief
16 “Sneaky Weasel” by Anissa Gordon
4 QR code: Paws & Play Pride Parade
16 “Baby” by Anissa Gordon
5 Artwork by Janeen
17 Artwork by Jaslene Govangurley
6 Letter from Estrellita, Guest Teen Editor
18 Artwork by Kayla Collins
8 Artwork by Janeen
19 Writing by Kayla Collins
9 “Fire Vortex” by Jasmeen Kaur
20 Interview with Guest Teen Editor Estrellita and Gretchen, Child Life Specialist
10 Artwork by Giuliana Cannizzo
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22 Artwork by Angela Lopez 23 Art Respone by Angela Lopez 24 Artwork by Aaron Holloman 25 QR code featuring video of Aaron’s artwork 26 “Trapped” by Jaqueline Ortega 27 Artwork by Max A.
32 “The Three Little Wolves” by Elis Carmen BonillaClaudio
28 Artwork by Estrellita Pacheco
32 Artwork by Asher Hills
29 “Mother Nature” by Estrellita Pacheco
34 “Patty” by Jasire McBeth 36 “To My Body” by Ashley Rosario
30 Artwork by Ashley Rosario 31 “My Depression” by Ashely Rosario
37 “Azucar” by David Vargas
Back cover art by Giuliana Cannizzo
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Dear Readers, Welcome to the Fall 2021 edition of REFLECTIONS magazine, the Zone’s teen art and literary magazine at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital. REFLECTIONS, previously known as SURGE Magazine, provides an outlet for teens within the Mount Sinai community, and the community at large to speak their minds, share their thoughts, and bring their visions to life on each page. This publication focuses on the theme of diversity, inclusion and women empowerment through the varied perspectives and experiences of our collective community, and pediatric patients. This collection of meaningful, honest, and thoughtful work reflects the lived experiences of our teens and young adults during this time. Thank you to our Guest Teen Editor, Estrellita, for her time and dedication towards the production of this edition of REFLECTIONS and to the members of the Youth Advisory Council for their continued contributions to the magazine and their involvement within the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. Special thanks to Diane Rode, Creative Arts Therapy Director, for her continued support and guidance in producing this bi-annual publication! s r Paw t u o ou om de fr ! Check i r P re m py Hap y Progra rade he a a P l & P r Pride thei
Christina Auriemma Editor-in-Chief Creative Arts Therapy Coordinator
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Artwork by Janeen
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Welcome to the Fall 2021 Edition of REFLECTIONS! REFLECTIONS magazine is an escape from life. It is a home where teenagers like myself can express themselves through art and writing. REFLECTIONS magazine allows me and other teens to create and publish art and writing for people to see and connect to. Art is a world where anything you create is beautiful because art has no beauty standards. Throughout the years, society has created its own definition of beauty. Women are at times put in a tiny box with a lot of expectations on how we are supposed to look and act. Expectations and standards that make us feel unworthy and at times disgusted with ourselves. Expectations and standards that make us want to change who we are for the world, but not for us. Well, things are starting to change! Instead, women are feeling empowered by breaking these standards by embracing who they are, as they are. Women are loving themselves for who they are. This edition of REFLECTIONS Magazine is filled with art and writing that is empowering, bold, beautiful and real and I can’t wait for you to get lost in the pages.
Estrellita Pacheco Guest Teen Editor
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¡Bienvenidos a la edición de otoño 2021 de REFLEXIONES! REFLEXIONES es una revista que ofrece un escape de la vida diaria. Es una casa en donde jóvenes como yo pueden expresarse a través del arte y escritura. REFLEXIONES revista me da la libertad a mi y a otros jóvenes de crear y publicar arte y escritura para compartir y conectar con muchas personas. El arte es un mundo en donde todo lo que creas es bello porque en el mundo del arte no existen estándares de belleza. Durante muchos años la sociedad ha creado y definido sólo un estándar de Belleza, por esta razón se ha creado una expectativa hacia las mujeres, cómo deben lucir y actuar. Tener expectativas de cómo debemos lucir y actuar nos ha llevado a no estar satisfechas con nosotras mismas al punto de no valorarnos por quien realmente somos. Estás expectativas hacen que cambiemos radicalmente quienes somos para gustarle a la sociedad pero no gustarnos a nosotras mismas. Pues la cosas van a cambiar porque ahora las mujeres nos sentimos ampoderadas y estamos rompiendo las barreras y exprectativas que se tienen sobre nosotras para abrazar y amar quienes somos realmente. REFLEXIONES es una revista que está llena de arte y escritura llena de amor, reflexión, y empoderamiento para todos y todas. No puedo esperar a que pueden perderse en la magia de las páginas!
Estrellita Pacheco Editora Adolescente Invitada
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Artwork by Janeen Pottinger, 15
Artwork by Janeen
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Fire Vortex Jasmeen Kaur, 22 It’s insane if we truly reflect, That we live within a world filled with humans. Yet the most ironic part is that, The world itself lacks the most humanity at times. Day and night – continuously listening to the news, Nothing positive on to watch. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, The news is -- for the most part -- all the same.
Liste n to her p Jasmeen oe t r y re here ad !
There’s no escape from the negativity, That has become our unfortunate reality. Yet my subconscious keeps praying, Praying for a ray of light to shine upon all of us. Stuck in a fire vortex, Yearning to be free, independent, and carefree. Breathing in and breathing out, Meditating, reflecting, and learning about our diversity. The diversity which makes us all different, Which in reality is what makes us all beautiful and magnificent. Be kind to others but also to yourself, Because you don’t want to be stuck in that mental fire vortex. 9
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Artwork by Giuliana Cannizzo , 12
Artwor k by Ka yla Coll
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ins, 18
Kelly created these anime drawings during her son’s admission to the hospital. Her inspiration came from Dr. Kishore Iyer who provided care during hospitalization along with David Blaine, who provided virtual magic. Kelly created these pieces to show appeciation for those that made an impact.
Artwork by Kelly Giordano
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The Song For Grace Tyanna Tolbert, 19
she’s sweet, she’s kind one like no other she makes me smile and blush all cause i love her her warm embrace and her beautiful eyes makes me feel like I won a grand prize but she’s hiding something, something deep that makes her the way she is she breaks down and cries she looked at life with a colorful lens because of all that pain she was in she’d rather not bother asking for help all because her feelings are dealt dealt? it’s hard to explain but it’s has to do with all her pain she felt alone and beaten bruised by her feelings but she was loved and covered protected for healing she wanted to believe it her heart is pure but what’s she been through is too much to endure 14
but she grew out of it out of the pain less feeling stress all to one person, her mother at best she healed her pain and helped with love she wiped her tears and gave her many hugs she finally found the feeling she was messing that feeling of love from no other, who she was sent to from up of above they ask why you say these things of her because she’s a blessing, that grand prize feeling that protection she needed from the world once she opened up it was easy to repair all the pain that laid there the love of your mother is like no other, i hope they’re always happy together if you need help don’t seek for it, it’s closer than you’ll ever know someone is here to patch you up, believe in him and give him your trust he’ll bring them to you, mother or friend they’ll help you to the very end cry if you need but wipe them away or that person will do it, just to save your day.
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“Sneaky Weasel” by Anissa Gordon, 14
“Baby” by Anissa Gordon, 14 16
Artwork by Jaslene Govangurley, 14
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“Rainbow” by Liliana Lopez-Vivar, 12
Artwork by Kayla Collins, 18
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It’s sort of a funny thing. Pain. Everyone feels it differently, and everyone perceives it differently. Tolerance is different for everyone. I’d like to think mine is pretty high. Having dealt with a horrible disease since one month old that inflicts sudden and debilitating pain, I’d say my pain tolerance is pretty high. Growing up with pain and calling the hospital my second home means I’m no stranger to the pain scale and definitely no stranger to the number 10. So yea, I’d say I can handle a substantial amount of pain. Yet, that night I felt so weak. I felt like my disease won. I felt as if I had no strength to pick myself up. I could hardly lift my finger to press my call bell to ask for my break through dose. I was defeated. Sickle cell won. Sickle cell disease took over and broke down every bit of strength I’d built the past 17 years. That single clot of sticky sickle cells in that tiny blood vessel in my back won. It broke me. It made me feel some of the worst pain I have ever felt in my entire life. That night I was defeated. Or so I thought. But was I really defeated? No. I still had the strength to lift that finger. I had the strength to take those deep breaths and focus on my breathing, the strength to reach out to someone to help distract me, the strength to adjust my bed to find a comfortable position. And the strength to close my eyes and remind myself that a new day is soon approaching and another day to keep fighting and get back up. So I’d say, I’m 10x stronger than any crisis ever tried to be. Kayla Collins, 18
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Guest Teen Editor
Estrellita’s Q&A with
Gretchen Greenlee Child Life Specialist
Estrellita- What inspired you to study child life? Gretchen- After I graduated I was working in school setting, I was interested in art and working with children and families. Started volunteering at a local children’s hospital and loved how it combined working with children and families, allowing me to be creative especially when every day is different. Estrellita- Is there an emotional part of this job? Gretchen- There can be, It’s important that I take care of myself. Self-care is so important for patients and families but also important for staff. There are things I like to do that make me feel good like cooking, baking, being outside and I also am fortunate that I work on such a great team and I can lean on them for support. Estrellita- Going back to what inspires you, I’m really inspired by you guys, you’re a part of strong women empowerment in my heart. How do you feel about women empowerment? Gretchen- It’s awesome! So many times in the hospital I look around, for example on morning rounds it will be all women there from the Attending to the nurses to myself and I think that’s really awesome and inspiring to see. Estrellita- I’m really passionate about women empowerment and speaking up against Asian hate. I feel like everyone is important. 20
Gretchen- Everyone comes with a story and taking the time to know the person as an individual and their story makes us realize that we are much more similar than we are different. Estrellita- If you had a wish in the world what would it be? Gretchen- Hmmm do you have one, what would it be? Estrellita- I wish for world peace. Gretchen- That’s a great one, I think for me it would be no more suffering for people. Estrellita- I feel like sometimes suffering can be good. That is what I’ve learned throughout my journey. Before, the little things didn’t really matter to me. Now that I look back and think about it…the little things matter more than the big things. I have become even more grateful. Gretchen- I love that, it is all about perspective. Estrellita- Yeah, It really changes your perspective and how you view the world. Gretchen- No major suffering or maybe my wish would be that people can be themselves. Estrellita- Wouldn’t that be so nice? Where you could just be yourself and no one could judge you? Gretchen- Yeah, absolutely. I love that question. On the record, I’m changing my answer. My wish is that people can be themselves without fear. 21 21
Artwork by Angela Lopez, 13
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Art Response Angela Lopez, 13
“The girl in the drawing is my friend Gabriella. I’ve known her for awhile and she’s been there for me so why not dedicate this to her. Hi Gabriella if you are seeing this! P.S: The makeup inspired in my drawing is from @sunshinethebee on instagram but you can also find her on TikTok!”
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Artwork by Aaron Holloman, 12 24
View m digit ore of A al ar t wor aron’s k her e!
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Trapped
Jacqueline Ortega, 21 How are you?
A never ending story
Do you want the truth? Or should I lie?
In my own mind
You won’t want to hear the truth…
In this world there are only broken promises
I wonder will it scare you away?
Children with hopes
Hmm I rather not say.
A completely shattered view From those who wander around
Is this real?
Wander in a world of their own
The pain in my chest won’t go away..
NOT reality...
My mind is a mess. A buffer from the world in isolation
Within the safety of their own minds
I’m trapped..
Dangerously in too deep Shutting all the exits behind them
Save me from my own skin
My soul is deep in the dark
Who am I?
What good does it do to reach?
Not myself..
I’m locked inside my brain
Not anymore
What is reality?
Only I have the key.
I don’t know.
Where? The pandora box in my heart Filled with unwanted memories
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Artwork by Max A, 11 27
Artwork by Estrellita Pacheco, 17 28 28
Mother Nature Estrellita Pacheco, 17
Mountains get wiser throughout time. Same as ones way of developing through all hardships and obstacles. Which is a very beautiful process to witness.
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Artwork by Ashley Rosario, 20
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My Depression Ashley Rosario, 20 She would would laugh at me, and scream. & I would just laugh with her.. but then cry when i felt like she wasn’t watching. Even though we had bad days together, she would be there with me when i felt lonely even if I was surrounded by my friends. She would remind me to go home because she knew I felt uncomfortable. My depression was like my bestfriend. But I got tired of her. I had to figure out a way to let her go.. & even though she wanted to stay , I told her that she would no longer have control over my life anymore. I told her that I was beautiful. & that I mattered. I told her that I no longer needed chaos. all i needed was peace. I told her that I would never listen to her again. I told her that I had power. & when I did she left.. she left me and never came back.. My depression was like my bestfriend. but never again would I let someone like that enter my life again..
My depression was like my bestfriend.. Not the good type.. it was the bad. It would sit down with me even if i ain’t ask her to.. It would talk to me everyday & tell me things I didn’t really want to hear. She stayed with me for years. I would try to make her disappear. My depression was like my bestfriend. & Even though bestfriends shouldn’t make eachother feel a way , my bestfriend did . It would make me feel empty. It would make me feel stuck. It would make me feel like i was better off dead.. I tried to talk to her about it but she wouldn’t listen. Instead, she would come back with more power. She would come back louder .. My depression was like my bestfriend. . Even though we had bad days together, at least she would sit with me when I would cry on the floor.. & even though I wanted her to stop , she would be there, laying next to me , when I was feeling hopeless.
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The Three Little Wolves Elis Carmen Bonilla-Claudio, 13
When he looked through the window, he saw poor Pig One Who thought his life was over and done. He had tears in his eyes As he was saying his goodbyes “Goodbye, cruel world! Goodbye! For today, I shall die! It made the wolf feel a bit bad, Maybe even a little sad.
One sunny day, Three young wolves woke up as you may. “For a brand new start!” Their father said from the heart. Excitedly, the four wolves ate, For this very date They would learn to hunt, Even the runt. They strolled to their first house On the way catching a mouse To gobble up on the way As their snack for the day.
“You’ve really let me down” Said the Father Wolf with a frown. And on they went, Since hunting today was what they meant. Pig Number Two was not broke So his house was made out of oak. “Surely you can knock it down” Father wolf said with yet another frown. “Little pig, little pig, please let me in your house” “Never would I ever” – said Pig Two, meek as a mouse.
The wolf huffed, and he puffed, then stopped in his tracks He had what’s called empathy, which many wolves lack 3232
Artwork by Asher Hills, 16
The youngest wolf knocked on the door. But Pig One’s hearing was poor. Angrily, the wolf yelled as loud as he could Come out Pig! If you don’t, I’ll blow your house down, I would! Pig One began to pray For his house was made of hay!
For watching her brush her gold locks was such a delight!
“Enough is enough!” – shouted big Father Wolf “This is even more boring than dumb mini golf!”
As she ran her fingers through her hair, He thought, “This isn’t fair!” Miss Piggy was pretty And better yet, witty. No home? She didn’t deserve. Death? Oh, What nerve!
Then he huffed and he puffed, and he brought the house down! Now the Little Wolves were the ones with a frown. “Dad!” Middle-Wolf cried. “Little piglet here could have died!” “What are you doing, helping him stand?!” Said Father Wolf -“Stop now, I demand!”
So the eldest wolf stood, As any Wolf should, He said, “To kill her I could not. Because love for her I’ve got. You’ll have to get over your wolfish ways, Forget the stuff from the olden days.”
So unwillingly, And as sad as can be, The Three Little Wolves trudged along Behind their Father, who they believed was wrong.
The Father Wolf thought, thought, and thought some more. “Well, if it’s Miss Piggy you truly adore, What is my anger for?” “The way Miss Piggy sets your heart aglow Reminds me of how I loved your mother so.”
Next, they came upon an old brick home. In the window sat Miss Piggy with a comb. For the Oldest Little Wolf, it was love at first sight
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“Patty” by Jasire McBeth, 17
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To My Body Ashley Rosario, 20
My friend mirror once told me “I know you don’t love yourself ”
how disgusted you felt being underneath your own skin.
I asked him “how do you know that”
How much it bothered you. how weak you’ll feel when i would show you , you.
He said “because when I would say I’m disgusting & you wouldn’t disagree”
To my body.
“I would make jokes and you would always joke around with me”. ever since i started to think.
Even though it took me pain and time to
So I’m sorry.
realize how beautiful you are,
I’m sorry I’ve mistreated you.
You are now my temple.
The bathroom mirror would be the first thing I would run to..
the temple where I’ll always go to, to praise you.
not to look at you and admire you but to look at you and belittle you.
the temple I’ll maintain. the temple I’ll rebuild no matter how many times the storms , rain , and words from the outside world would try to destroy you.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry I called you ugly, hideous in fact.
the scars, the pain , is the beauty within you.
I would stare at your scars & marks & be ashamed.
dear body, you’re my temple.
only because I felt like i should be the one to be blamed.
You’re beautiful and you’re worth it.
I should be blamed for putting you through everything you’ve been through.
I love you.
You’re perfect. I will take care of you til my very last breath.
I told my friend mirror about you.
my body.
I told him how skinny you were.
dear body, I love you. 36
“Azucar” by David Vargas, 18
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“Art is a world where anything you create is beautiful because art has no beauty standards.” —Estrellita Pacheco, Guest Teen Editor xxxviii
