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Date: 8/2/2022
WESTHAMPTON – During the month of August, the Westhampton Public Library will host the works by The Garden: a Center for Grieving Children and Teens, a Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice program.
The free program supports Western Massachusetts youth 5 to 18 years of age and their families following the death of someone close, including parents, siblings, other family members or friends, without limitations on how or when the death occurred.
The philosophy behind the Art with Heart aspect of the program is “reinforcing the connection between the head, heart, and hand to help people express their feelings around grief. The artwork made in this unique program will serve as a ‘container’ for one’s feelings that arise,” according to information provided by Cooley Dickinson.
According to Cooley Dickenson Hospital’s Hospice Nurse Manager Kelly Miller, in May, four local artists taught the participants their art medium through small-group workshops that led to the young artists creating various paintings, collages and sculptures that will be displayed in different venues throughout the Pioneer Valley. The exhibition will run from July until June 2023 at the Northampton Center for the Arts, culminating in The Garden’s 25th Anniversary.
As for future plans, Miller stated that the center was already considering another string of workshops for the fall and noted that the Bereavement Coordinator of the program, Shelly Bathe Lenn, is seeking more artists and participants to create more artwork.
Those interested to learn more about “Art with Heart and exhibit locations can visit https://www.cooleydickinson.org/programs-services/vna-hospice/the-garden/art-with-heart/.
The Westhampton Public Library is located at 1 North Rd.