On Wednesday, August 27th at 1:15 p.m., members of the Gutmann Laboratory gathered in the hallway outside of the Washington University NF Center for a ribbon cutting ceremony with local artist Vicki Friedman. Ms. Friedman worked with our families at the February 2014 Club NF event entitled a “Day of Art – Focusing on self-expression and creativity”. During this art therapy event, held at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild in Clayton, MO, attendees moved through stations and worked with several mediums of art, including painting, collage and modelling clay.
Ms. Friedman supervised a group watercolor mural on a large piece of cloth which we displayed at the 2014 Washington University NF Center Research Symposium. Symposium attendees were in awe of this beautiful, original piece created primarily by children with NF1. The artwork has since been mounted and framed, and will be permanently displayed in our hallway on the 2nd floor of the McMillan Building on the Washington University Medical School campus.
Vicki Friedman started the Arts as Healing Foundation over 10 years ago, offering free art classes to cancer patients and those that support them. Ms. Friedman is an artist and medical illustrator and has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and a Master’s in Education and Art.
Club NF is a free, bi-monthly, play-based therapy program for children with NF1 in kindergarten through 8th grade. Our St. Louis Children’s Hospital therapists use everyday activities to work on skills often delayed in children with NF1. Club NF is designed to give our children the tools they need to be successful now and in the future. To learn more about our Club NF events, please visit the Club NF section of our website.
Kirsten Brouillet
Club NF Event Coordinator