arts as healing foundation: to bring the therapeutic benefits of art to those touched by cancer and other chronic illnesses
meet founder vicki friedman of olivette
How did the organization get established?
I am a professional artist and was the director of MedPIC at Washington University School of Medicine, in charge of medical photography, illustrations and computer graphics for the entire medical center. In 2005, I was approached about the possibility of teaching art to cancer patients. We started with one class at Siteman Cancer Center, and I had only about eight people the first time. It was my first taste of teaching art in a different setting, and the first time many of these patients experienced art. From there, we had a lot of success. I put out posters throughout the medical center and Siteman and, along with word of mouth, the program kept growing. We had to keep moving to bigger rooms, which was wonderful! When I retired from Wash. U., I was given the opportunity to take Arts as Healing with me, and this is our third year with a 501(c)(3) designation.
What is your connection to this particular cause?
I have been an artist my entire life. I did my undergrad and graduate work at the Wash. U. school of fine arts and was trained in many different mediums. I’m also connected to the other side of it because I am a two-time cancer survivor. My first diagnosis was when I was 31, my second 30 years later.
What is the program like now? When we became a foundation, Artmart donated studio space where we started a weekly class. A lot of the people who were involved at Siteman came over and brought more patients with them. We put notices at rehabilitation centers, in hospitals and other similar areas to get the word out. Now, we hold classes at Art Unleashed, Washington University and the Cancer Support Community as well, and we’re looking for more studio locations throughout the city. Along with myself, many emerging artists volunteer as teachers, and it’s a great experience for both the teachers and the patients. Everyone is learning from each other. We’ve had every age from 16 on up, but most are older. It’s basically like a college-level course, and we cover everything from acrylics, pastels, charcoal, mixed media, clay, bookmaking—you name it! We also do collaborative pieces where it could be 40 people creating one piece of art. It’s a very trusting environment, and when anyone new walks in, everyone gives them a hug, welcomes them and starts sharing stories. And then the art binds them together even more. It’s a magical experience. This is patients’ safest place to share something that’s troubling them; they feel comfortable here. And then they get something tangible to take home from the experience! We also will do chair-side art while patients are getting infusions or chemotherapy. It makes the time go by quickly and lowers the stress level. We do outdoor painting sessions, field trips to the art museum and visits to local studios so patients can experience and create something in a real artist’s work space. And about every year and a half or so, for one night, Duane Reed of Duane Reed Gallery takes down all the work on his gallery walls and we have an exhibit of our class work for an evening show. We have food, a bar, music. This year, there were more than 600 people in attendance. The patients feel so loved and empowered, and it’s a moment of pure joy.
If you could do anything for the organization, what would it be?
To get the word out to more people so we can grow and more people can experience this environment. And sustainability is always a concern for any nonprofit. This is something worth supporting. It’s a very strong, diverse community that doesn’t judge.
in the words of arts as healing: “Vicki’s dedication and amazing creativity have inspired the people who attend classes and helped them see themselves as artists instead of patients. The classes are characterized by joy and laughter as a result of her remarkable talent.”
Photo: Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton Photography