Children at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers participate in a fun week of creativity
From April 26 through April 30, 225 children at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers® participated in a fun week of creativity during The Periwinkle Foundation’s Making A Mark® Artapalooza, presented by Northwestern Mutual.
The purpose of Artapalooza was threefold: (1) to engage children in a creative art experience both in the hospital and at home, (2) to collect art submissions for the foundation’s annual Making A Mark® exhibit, and (3) to introduce families to The Periwinkle Foundation. Each day of Artapalooza focused on a different theme and/or medium of art including mixed media, tempera, watercolor, torn paper collage, and self-portraits.
Making A Mark®, which is entering its 31st year, is part of the Periwinkle Arts In Medicine program at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, and each new exhibit makes its debut in September in honor of Childhood Cancer, Sickle Cell Disease, Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) and Histiocytosis Awareness Month.
Throughout the pandemic, the teams at Periwinkle and Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers have had to reimagine many of their Arts In Medicine programming which typically takes place in person. For example, they found an innovative, digital solution to showcase the artwork for the 2020 Making A Mark® exhibit while also continuing their Postcards from the Road program. Now viewers can explore the art via an online gallery and after viewing the art, they can simply fill out a virtual postcard on the foundation’s website. Virtual Postcards from the Road provides a beautiful connection between the artists and the viewers who are inspired by the impactful pieces of art.
In addition to Virtual Postcards from the Road, in July 2020, The Periwinkle Foundation successfully launched iAIM (Periwinkle Arts In Medicine delivered through technology) which has virtually connected Periwinkle’s professional art partners directly with more than 400 children at Texas Children’s. Through iAIM, children can have fun writing and recording original songs with help from Purple Songs Can Fly, take one-on-one creative writing lessons with Writers in the Schools, or enjoy virtual, bedside performances from The Houston Symphony.
Other virtual offerings include Creativity Connected and The Splendid Review. Creativity Connected is a semi-monthly interactive publication that provides children and their families with access to entertaining, interactive, and educational art activities. The Splendid Review is an anthology of poems, short stories and autobiographies written by the talented young writers at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers that is available to read on The Periwinkle Foundation’s website.
Since 2001, the Periwinkle Arts In Medicine program at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers has brought unique opportunities for self-expression, empowerment and development of coping skills to children and their families while enhancing the healing environment and treatment experience in a variety of settings including outpatient and inpatient care areas.
For images from Making A Mark® Artapalooza, presented by Northwestern Mutual, click here. Photos courtesy of Texas Children’s Hospital.