The mission of the Periwinkle Arts In Medicine Program at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers is to provide enjoyable and educational art activities that give children, young adults, families and caregivers affected by pediatric cancer and blood disorders the opportunity for self-expression, empowerment and healing through the arts. Art encourages self-expression, and it is particularly helpful to relieve stress in children who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment or blood transfusions. Making music, singing songs, performing dance, watching plays, writing poetry, and creating visual art, is an important part of the healing process.

As our lives continually change in response to the Coronavirus, many children and adults alike are seeking new mediums of self-expression and ways to spend meaningful time in isolation. At the heart of many of these new practices – is creativity! Over the next several weeks, we look forward to relaunching the “Make It a Splendid Week” series to provide inspiration to our community, share incredible work from our talented artists, and share ways to stay engaged with Periwinkle.

In this week’s edition, we feature artwork from the 2019 Purple Ribbon Collection from Making A Mark® and a creative writing piece which will be featured in an upcoming edition of The Splendid Review.

We hope you enjoy both Jillie and Kerilyn’s interpretation of the color blue, as we remember to be both patient and aware of the many ways individuals navigate the coping and healing process.

Blue, Blue, Blue

Blue, you are the color of the morning sky.
You are an exciting feeling, like when I get presents.
Blue, you are the season of summer.
You remind me of coloring ocean waves.
Blue, your emoji would be fluffy cotton candy.
I thank you for the blue birds chirping in the trees.
I think of you, blue, when I’m sad.
I always wanted to tell you, blue, that you’re beautiful,
as beautiful as a peacock!
I love blue, I love blue, I LOVE BLUE!

Kerylin, age 10

Jillie’s artwork, “Raining Blue” is currently featured in the virtual Postcards From The Road. Click here to write a note to Jillie or other artists with pieces in the exhibit.

This entry is a part of our series “Make it a Splendid Week”! Follow along weekly to enjoy excerpts from The Splendid Review, an anthology of poems, short stories and autobiographies written by talented young writers engaged in the Periwinkle Arts In Medicine Program at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers.