A great piece of art can brighten the darkest day and bring smiles, and that’s exactly what Oklahoma Children’s Hospital hopes will happen.
“It’s called ‘Camp Get Well Sooner,’ and it’s an annual camp that we do for all of our kids who are stuck in the hospital,” said Monica Lantz, child life specialist at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.
Since children want to enjoy summer camp, the hospital has a week of activities for patients and their families.
“We had our professional wrestlers come, and the zoo come and help us overcome our fears with scary animals,” Lantz said.
They even have special guests from Georgia.
“The Foundation for Hospital Art is a global organization that paints art with the community and then donates that art to hospitals and healthcare facilities,” said Meghan Black, artist and event leader for Foundation for Hospital Art.
In 2024 the group selected six installations to participate in the fun art festival.
“This is part of the painting festival we call the (Interstate 40) painting festival, where we will paint at different hospitals along (Interstate 40),” Black said.
Hospital patients, staff and even family members participate in the fun.
“Like people don’t know I painted it, but I’ll know. So when I walk by, I can say, wow, I did that,” said Traylynn, 15.
Traylynn is visiting her nephew in the hospital and the creative time she spends helps her not think about anything.
“It was so much fun, I was here painting, basically in my own world,” Traylynn said.
Each of the smaller paint-by-numbers canvases will be combined to create multiple large paintings that will be proudly displayed in the nursery once completed.
“Just having the opportunity to be expressive through painting and art, especially when kids are stuck here in the hospital and not always able to do fun things,” Lantz said.
The hope is that the art will not only provide an escape for patients, but will also bring them joy once it is displayed.
“Because they are seeing something beautiful, they heal faster. So it has a huge impact on everyone involved,” Black said.
They hope to have the mural completed and on display in about a month, and you will also be able to see it on the hospital’s social media pages. @Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health on Facebook and Instagram.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.