“All you have to do is walk on the ward and feel the difference from the quilt,” says Joan Henry, a professional artist from Mill Street Loft in Poughkeepsie, talking about a quilt currently hanging in the Vassar Brothers Medical Center’s Pediatric Unit.
The quilt is the result of community project at the 2006 Dutchess Arts Camp, created by campers and patients from the pediatric unit under the direction of Laura Evonne Steinman, a teaching community artist from Mill Street Loft.
It was later donated to the Vassar Brothers Pediatric Unit and now it has inspired a new program, Heart Arts, designed to benefit chronically ill and acutely ill children and their families.
Heart Arts will give children with long-term illnesses, such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, sickle cell anemia, ADHD and other developmental disabilities and illnesses, the chance to participate in positive and creative activities while in the hospital for treatment. The program is sponsored by Vassar Brothers Medical Center and Mill Street Loft.
Every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon, four professional artists from Mill Street Loft – Christina DiMarco, Joan Henry, Alice Johns-Seegar and Laura Evonne Steinman – will lead the young outpatients in healing arts activities at the Vassar pediatric unit.
Each week, the artists see between 12-20 patients. Nearly 100 children and family members have participated in the pilot program since its inception last month.
“Healing arts is art that soothes the soul, bringing a smile to a hurting one,” said Steinman. “This act is totally unconsciously happening because the art of creating is healing.”
Activities vary from storytelling, making paper art and creating music to creative writing. Each of the professional artists bring their own interests in the development of the children’s activities.
Joan Henry emphasizes the tradition of Native American spirituality to the children with her storytelling.
“You get a charge when you see what is happening with the patients,” said Henry. “The kids were so engrossed by my stories.”
Along with storytelling, Henry has also led the children in the creation of corn dolls, made from corn husks. Henry said the activity expresses the idea that “throwaway items” can be used to create something beautiful.
“Hands-on activity is what the healing process should be – it changes their experience as well. It is the movement that creates lightening – a huge untouchable part of the healing process,” Henry said.
Arlene Gould, program coordinator from Mill Street Loft, said she believes art is important for the healing process, and Heart Arts is targeted to limit negative feelings toward a child’s treatments.
“We want to make art a regular part of the healing process,” said Gould. “Our goal is not to just reach children, but everyone.”
Katie Rapp, case manager in pediatrics at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, has seen a change in the pediatric ward, she said – there have been more smiles and the anxiety levels have lessened. Heart Arts has even encouraged older patients to join the art activities, she said.
“It has given the kids something to almost look forward to when they come to the hospital,” said Rapp. “The parents have told me that Heart Arts has helped ease their worries about their treatments.”
Rapp added that the program has also expanded to the inpatient floor, and said that it’s been a success there as well.
Heart Arts’ spring goal is to create a garden at Vassar Brothers Medical Center for the patients to plant their own seeds, Rapp said.
“Art is a part of our life,” said Henry. “Arts are inherently healing.”
Donations for the program can be made to Mill Street Loft, Heart Arts, 455 Maple St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.