Art with a Heart in Healthcare partners with Cultural Center to showcase pediatric patient artworks

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Art with a Heart in Healthcare (AWAHIH) is featuring a special exhibition of artwork by pediatric patients from Wolfson Children’s Hospital at the Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach through Sept. 22.

The exhibition, entitled “Another Side Revealed,” offers an opportunity for families and friends of the young artists to gather and connect in a moment of creative community. Young patients participating in the program are from Palm Coast, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville and beyond.

“Art with a Heart in Healthcare celebrates the healing power of the creative process,” said Christy Ponder, executive director and artist in residence of Art with a Heart. “It is our honor to share the works of these talented young artists with the community.”

The new Ponte Vedra exhibition gives artists a chance to answer questions about themselves. In answering the questions, each patient renders their self-portrait as they are and as they would be. By painting on canvas, patients can explore their personalities, stories and identities in two-dimensional form. “Another Side Revealed” presents a vast variety in how these artists would alter their world.

“I am so fortunate to spend part of my day creating art with these very special kids along with our artists in residence who develop very special bonds with patients during difficult times in their young lives,” said Ponder. “Each patient that we work with does such a great job expressing their vision on the canvas.” 

Artwork in the exhibit includes “Mito Warrior” by 11-year-old Eliana Nanni, whose portrait relates to her diagnosis of mitochondrial disease.

"I like superheroes and I don’t like seeing people hurt or sick," she said. "My superpower would be to heal.”

Nanni painted a cape because she’d like to fly. She also enjoys art and hopes to visit London someday.

“I feel relaxed when I am creating art,” said 11-year-old Jonathan Cepeda, whose preferred medium is graphite. “I like to do hands-on experiments.”

An untitled piece by 4-year-old Rue Andeer shows the spunky side of the artist who says she would love to be a swimming teacher or a cook. The right side of her painting reflects these dreams, while the left side shows her usual tutu-wearing self. Andeer has embraced her illness and hopes to be a role model to those who know her.

Art with a Heart in Healthcare is a nonprofit organization that providing personalized fine art experiences to enhance the healing process for patients and families at Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Each patient is partnered with an artist in residence of AWAHIH, bringing out their natural talents, while promoting self-confidence and self-awareness during their hospital experience.