Free Art Classes for Cancer Patients
September 3, 2014
“Healing Icons” at Lexington Medical Center
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Lexington Medical Center is pleased to offer “Healing Icons,” a series of free art classes for community members who have cancer. The next classes at Lexington Medical Center will begin on Wednesday, September 10th and run through December 3rd on the Lexington Medical Center hospital campus. The classes are open to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, and in any stage of treatment, regardless of where they have received their treatment.
During the classes, students create art including black and white pencil drawings, masks, paintings and more. The students are in all stages of treatment from the beginning of chemotherapy to grappling with a recurrence of cancer. Creativity can help stimulate and support health immune systems. It can also help patients express the range of emotions they often feel about a cancer diagnosis and how it will impact themselves and their family.
Columbia artist Heidi Darr-Hope leads the classes. Learn more about her at www.healingicons.org
“Once people can freely express the anger and anxiety, they lay them on the shoulders of their artwork and become lighter,” Darr-Hope said. “It seems simplistic, but there’s rich information under it.”
“Healing Icons” is a free class for cancer patients that’s paid for through the Lexington Medical Center Foundation. Each week, students meet in the Resource Room located inside Lexington Oncology on the hospital campus.
Here is the schedule for the upcoming classes:
Autumn Workshop: Understanding Uncertainty, Unity, Wholeness and Balance
Wednesday, September 10. 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Mixed Media Mandalas for Releasing, Letting Go
Wednesday, September 17. 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Open Studio – Independent Workshop Time
Wednesday, September 24. 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Mixed Media Mandalas for Harvesting Gratitude
Wednesday, October 1. 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Open Studio – Independent Workshop Time
Wednesday, October 8. 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Mixed Media Mandalas for Accepting Uncertainty
Winter Workshop: Coming Home to Ourselves, Exploring Bookmarking
Wednesday, November 5. 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Creating a Visual Journal for Remembering
Wednesday, November 12. 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Open Studio – Independent Workshop Time
Wednesday, November 19. 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Creating a Visual Journal for Letting Go
Wednesday, November 26. 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Open Studio – Independent Workshop Time
Wednesday, December 3. 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Creating a Visual Journal for Discovery
To register, email [email protected], or call Libby Daniels at 791-2289 or Jennifer Peagler at 791-2617. Register early as class size is limited.
Members of the community can support Healing Icons by making a contribution to the Lexington Medical Center Foundation at LMCFoundation.com or by calling (803) 791-2540. Additionally, some of the current artwork from Healing Icons students appears on note cards that are available through the Foundation.
For more information, visit www.lexmed.com/cancer-care or call the Lexington Medical Center Volunteer Services office at 803-791-2573.
About Lexington Medical Center
Lexington Medical Center, in West Columbia, S.C., anchors a county-wide health care network that includes six community medical centers throughout Lexington County and employs a staff of 6,000 health care professionals. The network also includes comprehensive cardiovascular and oncology care affiliated with Duke Medicine, an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas and more than 60 physician practices. At its heart is the 414-bed state-of-the-art Lexington Medical Center, with a reputation for the highest quality care. Lexington Medical Center has won “Best Hospital” by readers of The State for 12 years, “Best Hospital” by readers of the Free Times, “Best Place to Have a Baby” by readers of Palmetto Parent, the “Consumer Choice Award” from the National Research Corporation and the prestigious “Summit Award” from Press Ganey for outstanding patient satisfaction.
