Ali, age 10, from Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center created “Birdie and Nest” (2009) and told ArtWorks “I made this bird out of tissue paper, #raffia, #feathers, and #texturedpaper. I had lots of fun using glue to tap them down.” Join in the fun this #NationalCraftDay and tag ArtWorks in your next craft project! 

Thank you, Montefiore Health System for hosting ArtWorks this past weekend for our annual Teaching Artists Training Session. We love getting together to share experiences, compare ideas and discuss policies from social media to self-care. Special thanks to Genevieve Lowry (ArtWorks Advisory Board Member and Acting Director of the Child Life Program/ Bank Street College of Education) and Ingrid Ordonez-Street (Program Supervisor and Child Life Specialist at CHAM) for your expertise and insight into the role of a #ChildLifeSpecialist and thank you to Meghan Kelly for making it all possible! #LetArtHeal #ArtWorksKids

ArtWorks is privileged to work with extraordinary women from young artists and teaching artists, to Child Life Specialists, doctors, our staff, Board and more. We celebrate them today and everyday. Tell us about the women who inspire you by tagging ArtWorks in your #InternationalWomensDay post!

“Different” by ArtWorks Young Artist, Cree from Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital (2003).

We are thrilled to announce a new year-long collaborative program with ArtWorks Teaching Artist, Robyn Ellenbogen and The Rutgers Garden at Bristol Myer’s Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. This program aims to promote creativity through the use of organic materials obtained from the Gardens and projects will be approached through a multidisciplinary lens using storytelling, music, poetry, writing, performance, fine art techniques, animation and sculpture. This program is generously funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President’s Grant Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation. Pictured here is Robyn Ellenbogen with RWJ Child Life Specialist, Sarah Devlin.

Since 2002, ArtWorks has worked with Child Life Specialists in hospitals to bring creative programs to children and young adults facing chronic and life-limiting illness. Our organization was founded in large part due to the relationship Naomi Cohain had with her own Child Life Specialist and Art Therapist at Hackensack University Medical Center. 

Child Life Specialists help pediatric patients and their families cope with the stress and uncertainty of illness, diagnosis and treatment. Through developmentally appropriate interventions including therapeutic play, preparation and education they aim to reduce the fear, anxiety and pain that often surrounds a chronic or life-limiting illness. Their work is essential to the continuation of our mission and we celebrate and applaud the field and its important role within the healthcare team.

Luciana, age 13 from Hackensack University Medical Center shares her love of pets with ArtWorks. From rabbits to gerbils, fishes to parrots, our pets are truly our companions. Be sure to tag ArtWorks, The Naomi Cohain Foundation when you share your National #LoveYourPetDay post or reply in the comment section with a photo of your pet so we can celebrate them with you. #LetArtHeal #ArtWorksKids

ArtWorks, Teaching Artist Steven Hazlett visited the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Health where he will lead a year long program series in macro-photography. Young Artists will use a special camera lens to shoot a variety of materials such as rhinestones, feathers, beads and more to create extraordinary compositions.

Willem Dafoe plays the brilliantly complex Vincent Van Gogh in Julian Schnabel’s At Eternity’s Gate and is up for Best Actor this Sunday at the 91st Academy Awards. ArtWorks Young Artist Mikeyla channeled her inner Van Gogh after her mother introduced her to the iconic “Sunflowers” (1889). She told ArtWorks, “I wanted to make my own!” Van Gogh continues to make an impact all over the world and we are delighted that he influences our Young Artists all these years later. 

We kicked-off ArtWorks, Teaching Artist Michael Albert’s Collage Art Workshop last Thursday at The Brooklyn Hospital Center. Our Young Artists will be using scissors, glue and a canvas to transform ordinary consumer cardboard packaging into a #mosaic like collage! (Pictured: Michael and Child Life Specialist, Lori Lerma with special guest, Princess Anna of Arendelle from A Moment of Magic Foundation).