LIFESPAN HEALING ART PROGRAMS
PROGRAMS THAT USE ART CARTS
RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL AND HASBRO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
The Lifespan Healing Arts has numerous inpatient and outpatient art programs
that require the use of an Art Cart. For the most part the carts are the standard
wooden cart variety with shelves and a handle, The Bottles of Hope program
uses a hospital utility cart. The Museum on Wheels program uses a cart that was
purchased at Sam’s Club and re-fitted specifically for this program.
HASBRO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
MUSEUM ON ROUNDS began in 1991 as collaboration between Rhode Island
Hospital Children’s Potter Unit and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum
of Art. The program visits both the outpatient oncology clinic and inpatient floors
5 and 6. Once a week for 3-4 hours a professional arts educator/artist visits a
particular unit along with a work/study student from The Rhode Island School of
Design - and with her well-stocked Art Cart. Patients who can leave their rooms
meet in the activities room on each floor where the lesson for the day is
presented. The artist will also visit patients bedside who are unable to leave their
rooms (the list of these patients provided by Child Life staff). The artist/instructor
shows a reproduction of a famous work of art from a museum collection then
engages the children in a discussion about the artist and of the unique form and
content of the artwork. The patient then creates their own work of art based on
their observations. Instructors have available appropriate supplies for each
project. Some projects might include; collage with Matisse; watercolor painting
with Monet; wire sculpture with Calder; masks with African mask images,
printmaking with Rauschenberg. The lesson is designed to be completed in one
session to give the child a sense of completion regardless of the length of their
stay. Siblings if in the patient’s room are also invited to partake in the program.
Lessons encompass all the types of art projects that are used in the public
schools and the same variety of art supplies: Some projects: Collage, watercoloracrylic painting, clay sculpture, jewelry, mask-making, wood sculpture, painted
shoes, crayon resist, book-making, printmaking, cigar jewel boxes, mirrors,
frames. Patients usually want to take their work home with them but if not the
work is exhibited and rotated in the children’s gallery in the RI hospital. For many
children Museum on Rounds is their first exposure to great works of art and the
creative process. The program provides children with the chance to create art
and helps them gain a greater sense of accomplishment, self-worth and control
in an unsettling situation. Museum on Rounds employs two part-time professional
artists/educators. The program is funded though grants, private donations and
hospital funds.
ART WHILE YOU WAIT caters specifically to children who must spend time in
the Emergency Department waiting area of the hospital. The primary goal of
AWYW is to offer a therapeutic distraction to patients who may be experiencing
pain, anxiety or fear. Additional goals include using art as a viable tool in
palliative care, s well as providing assistance to the medical staff in the ED
waiting area, by keeping the children engaged and relaxed. The program
presents a different art project each week, in addition the art cart is filled with a
variety of art and crafts materials and other guided projects for patients and their
siblings. For the younger artists parents are encouraged to help and some enjoy
crafting their own projects. AWYW visits the ED 3 nights a week form 6-9pm. The
program is directed by artist Kyle McDonald and is funded by the Art for Life
Foundation. Art While You Wait was one of the 5 winners of the Blair Sadler
International Healing Arts Competition in 2005.
RHODE ISLAND HOSPTIAL
ART ON ROUNDS is modeled after Museum on Rounds and visits the two adult
units in Rhode Island Hospital. The artist/instructor along with a RISD student
visits patient’s bedside with the Art Cart. Projects are designed to help patients
use art to express their feelings and provide a creative and emotional outlet that
may help their physical healing as well. Families are invited to participate along
with the patient. Each week the artist visits the unit with a different museum
reproduction, discusses the artist and the work of art while encouraging
participation from the patient. Patients then create their own work of art using the
reproduction as inspiration. Still-life set-ups, calendar images and other resource
material are used to inspire and motivate the patient. It is not always easy to
engage an adult in an art project. They are often depressed, anxious and not at
all receptive to the program. This is where the right person is needed for the
particular program. An artist who can enter a patient’s room with a smile and a
warm greeting and tell the patient about the program. If the patient says “No, not
interested” the artist simply leaves. Sometimes the artist will simply sit with the
patient and create the artwork for them, with the patient’s input by providing
suggestions of color, imagery. Often it is the company of a non-medical person
(conversation is focused on art) that is just as important for the patient as doing
an art project. The individual medical units support this program where the
program takes place.
CREATE-A-CARD is a new Volunteer run adult program that invites patients and
families to create-a-card. The Art Cart is stocked with an assortment of Mandala
designed cards (various Mandala pencil designs drawn on cards) with envelopes,
colored pencils and markers. (The symbol of the Mandala seemed appropriate
for a hospital setting as the Mandala may lead its user to a visualization and
realization of the source of energy within himself/herself). The patient chooses
one design, selects colors and writes their own message. The card can be given
to a loved one, a friend, a member of the staff, a” thank you.” This program is
well suited for patients who are intimidated by the more open-ended art program.
It offers them the opportunity to make choices, choose colors, and engage in
conversation and share time with the art volunteer. The program visits patients
weekly on one unit. The initial cost of art supplies and cards and purchase of a
the Art Cart was covered by the Volunteer Department.
BOTTLES OF HOPE is an adult program that brings weekly workshops to RIH
Comprehensive Cancer Center. The artist turns chemotherapy bottles into art by
decorating them with colorful polymer clay and filling them with a wish or
message of hope. The artist works one on one with the patient while the patient
is in outpatient treatment. Finished bottles take the form of trees, robots, animals,
etc.The patient takes the bottle home and bakes it in the oven for 20 minutes or
the artist will take it home and return it to the patient the following week.
Caregivers are also invited to participate. The Alice Boss Health and the Arts
Fund and philanthropic contributions support the program. Visit
bottlesofhope.com
MUSEUM ON WHEELS offers patients the opportunity to choose new artwork for
their rooms from a traveling library of prints and photographs. Trained volunteers
make weekly rounds in RIH. Subject matter includes, landscapes, animals, birds,
sports, children, etc. At patient’s request images of motorcycles, Portugal
landscapes (RI has a big Portuguese population) and other unique pictures have
been added to the collection. The volunteer engages the patient in conversation
about their choice of a print and hangs it in their room. The element of choice,
selecting one’s favorite print and changing one’s environment-is an important
aspect of this program. The artwork can promote thoughtful discussion between
the patient and the volunteer about the subject matter, etc. Art Prints are
purchased from Bruce McGaw and New York Graphic Society. Prints are
laminated and framed with simple brushed silver by the company that laminates
the prints. Wire is affixed to the back of the print. The Rhode Island Hospital
Medical Staff Association supports the program.