Exhibition of Artwork by Children Fighting Cancer

12 May 2009

Sylvia Thompson

An international exhibition of paintings and drawings by children undergoing cancer treatment opens today in St. James's Hospital, Dublin.

Organised to coincide with the international cancer conference at the hospital this week, the images of family trips, home life, birthdays, hospitals, and cancer treatment are a powerful expression of the feelings and coping strategies of these children.

"It's not all doom and gloom. There is a lot of humour in the art. It's very life-affirming," said Prof. Mark Lawler, associate professor of experimental haematology and oncology at the hospital.

"Staff in hospitals are under a lot of pressure. This exhibition gives people an opportunity to pause and reflect on the children's stories," said Prof. Lawler, whose idea it was to bring the art works here.

Each image is accompanied by a comment from the child in response to the theme, "The Day I Will Never Forget."

Prof. Mark Lawler and Sheila Grace, art director, St. James's Hospital, at the "Tracy's Kids: The Art of Healing" exhibition in St James's Hospital, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

The exhibition originated from "Tracy's Kids: The Art of Healing," an international art project in Jordan, Israel, Turkey and the United States organised by Tracy Councill, art therapist from the American National Cancer Institute.

"We get a lot of support from the staff at the hospitals we work in. People say the 'open studio' sessions we run in each cancer treatment centre changes the environment of the clinic," said Ms. Councill.

"It helps the children feel more relaxed and, in some cases, it can allow them express more directly their experiences," added Ms. Councill, who will present a paper on art therapy in paediatric haematology-oncology at the cancer conference on Friday.

Sheila Grace, arts director at St. James's Hospital, said she had found the images "very compelling, poignant and celebratory."

"The highlighting of art and art therapy in particular alongside a critical cancer conference will be thought-provoking," she added.

According to Ms. Grace, art therapy is not used much in Ireland in childhood cancer care, although the use of the arts as a creative play experience is more common.

"Tracy's Kids: The Art of Healing" will also be on show in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin before travelling in mid-July to cancer treatment centres in Israel, Jordan, and Turkey.

The images from the exhibition can also be seen on www.tracyskids.org.

This story is available online at: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2009/0512/1224246310963.html .