ESSO In Action
Art from the Heart is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help children recuperate through the power of visual art. We commission talented artists from the Exeter community to create and publish coloring books for the pediatric rehabilitation ward of the local hospital, the Lincoln Elementary School’s special education program and the Harris Family Children’s center.
Art has been proven to help calm nerves for kids and adults. Even though waiting in the hospital can be a scary experience, these coloring books can help them get through what could be the hardest time in their lives. Kids who have trouble with motor skills can use drawing as practice for their fine motor skills. For kids with learning disabilities, art can serve as a form of expression.
The club is based on Diane Brown’s program, RxArt, which brings art to hospitals across the U.S. and soon in Canada. The RxArt coloring books include pieces from famous artists, bringing different styles of art to people in hospitals. They also bring art projects to the walls of the hospitals, making a visit to the doctor a less scary experience for children when they come in for consultations and treatments.
With the help of the Art Department and Ivy Hong, the club brought Diane Brown to speak about her experience with helping kids through artwork. Her program touched the lives of many people and we hope to do the same.
Even though we cannot paint on the walls of the Exeter Hospital, we can create coloring books with the work of Phillips Exeter students, faculty and staff. The coloring book celebrates everyone’s individual talent and style, and puts them into a book for kids to enjoy.
This gives people of Exeter an opportunity to give back to the community by contributing their own artwork. At this school, art is hard to fit into our busy schedules. We hope that this club can provide an excuse to spend a little extra time on artwork while sharing art with those who will benefit from it.
Anyone can submit, including faculty and staff. Draw anything you want, as long as it is age appropriate and does not picture any copyright material (Coca Cola, Snoopy, Mickey Mouse, etc.) Use black sharpie or pen for the drawings. Please keep it true to your drawing style, but please no memes! Email your submissions to mekim@exeter.edu or itran@exeter.edu or put them into our P.O. boxes. Make sure you sign your name so we know who you are.
Please drop by art department head Tara Misenheimer’s classroom in the art building (107) at 11 a.m. on Sundays to draw, chill and eat snacks.
Happy drawing!