From paintings to drawings, poems to short stories, sculptures to crafts, photographic works to collages, the Making a Mark exhibit will be on display from Sept. 11 to Oct. 7 at Texas Children’s Hospital. In addition to a variety of artwork, guests will be able to enjoy live music, face painting, arts and crafts and much more.
Presented by The Periwinkle Foundation and the Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Making a Mark provides artistic opportunities for hundreds of children undergoing cancer treatment in Texas and all over the world. In its 15th year, this exhibit includes artwork from children in Brazil, England and Australia.
According to Carol Herron, the arts in medicine coordinator, most of the artistic pieces are by children who live in Texas. In fact, several pieces are from children who live in the Houston area. “This year, we have many pieces from children who live in Alvin, Baytown, Port Arthur, Pearland, Sugar Land and in other Houston areas,” says Herron.
In February of each year, children in clinics get their creative juices flowing with help from professionals and volunteers. By September, a public, judged art exhibit of all of the submissions takes place. Making a Mark is a traveling exhibit that makes its way throughout the nation to raise awareness of cancer while also giving the children a chance to share their creativity.
Judges, who represent different organizations that promote cancer awareness, select winners from three age groups for the Blue Ribbon competition. Each child is able to tell his/her story while also receiving a Making a Mark T-shirt.
There will also be a public art display created by patients of the Cancer Center. With the assistance of this year’s talented and featured artist Michelle Barnes, the young artists worked nine consecutive days to create nearly 100 collages. With ribbons, glitter, different fabrics and found objects, a tapestry banner filled with an explosion of color and creativity will demonstrate the children’s dedication and the fun they had making the art. H
