Summer Colors Artist Spotlights: Part I

by | Jun 6, 2018 | Events

Summer Colors, now in its 10th year, was an idea born out of passion for both art and the patients of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Founded in 2009 by Jenny and Loren Koziol and Jill and Dupree Scovell, this silent art auction raises awareness about the hospital, while also exposing the Dallas community to up and coming local artists. Each year, local artists donate original pieces of art to be featured in the auction, with all the proceeds benefiting our hospital. Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing you to all of the artists. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, July 26, at Scottish Rite Hospital. Additional information and tickets can be found at scottishritehospital.org/summercolors

Christina Mitchella

Dallas native, Christina Mitchella, is an accomplished and award-winning artist specializing in impressionistic drawings and abstract oil paintings. Her life-long zeal for the arts transitioned from passion to career. After graduating with a Bachelors in Fine Arts, Christina began actively showing her works in galleries, competing in art shows, auctions and completing commissioned pieces for her growing base of followers and supporters.

Christina’s art is remarkably inspired and contemplative, spanning many different artistic mediums. Whether she is creating a portrait, painting in still life, or transforming a canvas with abstract expressionism, her impeccable attention to detail and vibrant use of color breathes life into every stroke and sketch.

It is Christina’s hope that her works will emit joy, stir inspiration and spread enthusiasm for the arts in all who view them. Her works can be viewed in galleries throughout Texas, and she is currently available for commissioned work.

ERIKA KRIVDA

 

 

I believe that there is no one “thing” that inspires me. My inspiration comes from an accumulation of three things: my past, present, and future. Coming from a family of artists, I have been painting and creating since I was a child. I’ve watched my artwork evolve over the years and I love finding new ways to create. Painting is my way of understanding myself and everything around me.

Lydia Abigail

Lydia Abigail has been heavily involved in the art industry for nearly 7 years. She has participated art shows with the North East Art Association, Texas Woman’s University, the 101 Gallery, and many local shops. Lydia loves to connect with other artists and has completed many art shows, pop-up galleries, or craft markets with other artists in her area. Not only does Lydia show her work locally, but she also has completed live art drawings for coffee shop events and lead therapeutic art workshops. She has completed commissioned jobs with work in oil paint, pencil, charcoal, ink, and chalk. Lydia has been trained in oil, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, pencil, woodwork, and clay and is always continuing her study of these mediums. Lydia Abigail is currently involved in many local creative organizations which give her inspiration and encouragement!

Lydia Abigail is inspired by this magnificently beautiful world around her. Many of her works of art are based off of or are impressions of nature. Natural sources and images are often incorporated into each of her pieces, whether by pictures, scientific studies, or the simple observation of earthly-details. Overall, she finds the outdoors to be her main source of inspiration for her creative journey.

ALLYSON HALL

Allyson Hall happily tabled her career as a journalist for the adventures of motherhood almost nine years ago. Four babies later, the youngest finally on board the “potty train,” she finally figured out what she wanted to be when she grew up. Allyson followed the pull to turn her creativity into a professional pursuit that excited her every day. It started with photography. She loves capturing the unexpected moment, the unposed expression on faces. Her Nikon is like a fifth child — it goes everywhere with her.

About face silhouettes is an extension of Allyson’s passion for photography, a new use for the thousands of .jpgs that were building up in her photo library. She was looking for a fresh medium to capture the images of her children and remembered the great black and white silhouettes of Allyson as a kid.

By first photographing her subjects’ profiles, she has a fixed moment from which she can trace a detailed silhouette. Allyson takes her time, putting great care into precisely cutting the slope of a nose, the pout of the lips or the curl in the hair. This is what sets an “about face” original apart from many other silhouettes. The greatest compliment she has received comes from clients who say they can fill in the rest of the silhouetted face’s features with their mind’s eye. 

Allyson uses sturdy colored cardstock to give her silhouettes a modern vibe and to provide her clients another opportunity to express their individuality. So that’s what Allyson is about. She hopes that her work adds a splash of color to your walls and makes you smile. 

 

Jenn Thatcher

 

Jenn Thatcher has always has a love for color and design. After moving to Texas from Chicago 10 years ago, she was working for a Wall Street firm with a demanding travel schedule and long hours. Being a wife and mother of three, with two of the children being Scottish rite patients, she finally decided to leave her corporate career to pursue painting full time. Jenn believes that creating art is a gift from God, and a blank canvas is a metaphor for life. It can be anything you want it to be. And if you don’t like the direction it’s going, it’s never too late to start over or change direction.

It’s so important to remember that everyone and everything can be beautiful at some point in time, it’s all a matter of how you look at it. Jenn’s work is featured in stores through the US and works directly with designers and clients in the Dallas area. Some of her work can be viewed on Instagram @Jenn_Thatcher_Art or on her website at www.jennthatcher.com.

 

Helen Doty​

 

Helen was born and raised in Manchester, England. As a teenager she lived with my parents in Singapore for 4 years, before moving with them to Chicago IL.  Helen was working as a computer programmer when she met her husband. After marrying her American, we moved down to Texas, where they have lived happily for over 10 years. The two are now raising our two daughters here in Frisco, Texas. Helen has only been painting for a year. Purely for just the pleasure of creating at first. Then as gifts for friends and family. She is excited to have just sold her first commissioned piece!

Helens art is inspired and gets ideas by chatting with the person that is looking to add something to a space or room, with photos, or a certain color palette. To View more of Helen Doty’s paintings, visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HelenDotyArt/

Anita Felix

Anita is renowned for her interpretations of ballerinas, churches, barns and of course, angels.
Her current surroundings in east Texas inspire her modern paintings of quaint historic barns and churches.
After living by the ocean for many years, you can see the influence of water in many of her contemporary pieces.

Mione Plant

Mixing things that don’t formally go together can be a great trick in design and fashion, and most certainly in life. I love the things about myself that are incongruous, at odds with each other, not a natural combo.

My parents come from the East (Middle East and Eastern Europe), yet I was raised in the heart of West Texas. I’m an engineer by training, but am real cozy with my right brain. I’ve biked from Texas to Alaska, but am feminine and delicate. I’m a mom to a two year old vibrant son, but act like a kid delighting in spontaneous moments of joy. I love deep personal connections with my friends and family, but re-energize alone with a piping hot cup of tea. I’m a perfectionist, but take pleasure in synchronous missteps. I’m serious about my work, but playful with my creations.
I’m inspired by flashes of beauty in my environment, bringing life to the small things, as well as the big ideas. I work with multiple forms of expression including abstract art and illustrative work.

My abstract artwork is inspired by contemplative moments and a desire for deep meaning and connection, while I apply freedom of brushstroke and allow a sense of flow in the direction taken.

In contrast, my illustrative artwork is inspired by a child-like sense of wonder, and created with visions of bringing a smile or even laughter to viewers of all ages. This work entails finely detailed imagery, developed over the course of many weeks.

Leida A. Bartmess

Constantly pushing the edge, LeidaB presses in her work for discovery and celebration. Her compositions are fluid, with color and dimension setting the pace for a unique painting every time with a new journey. Viewing a LeidaB painting is a rich experience that drips with color and emotion. Her passionate works are alive with movement, boldly created with brushes and a palette knife. She loves working with acrylics, heavy mediums, resin and found objects, dramatically transferring her vision to the canvas and ultimately on to the viewer.

 

My inspirations comes from JD Miller and my mentor is Cynthia Chartier.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

WFAA: Artist finds his calling making prosthetic limbs for children

WFAA: Artist finds his calling making prosthetic limbs for children

by | May 24, 2018 | Press Coverage, Spotlight

Watch full video.  

Dwight Putnam always knew he wanted to be an artist. In fact his ambitions were somewhat of a sticking point between himself and his father.

“He wanted me to get into medicine,” Putnam said.

Putnam eventually became a successful commercial sculptor, creating large installations for businesses all over. But the artist in him was still searching for his masterpiece and then he found it in an unexpected place.

“I think Scottish Rite saw the potential in me before I did,” Putnam said.

More than a decade ago Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas approached the young sculptor about working in their prosthetic limb department. The orthopedic hospital is known across the world for state of the art care for children including amputees.

“My background in design and structure worked perfectly for this,” Putnam said.

Patients say the mild mannered Putnam has a gift for listening to the young men and women and identifying their gifts. Over the years he has created specialized prosthetic limbs that have allowed children to pursue dreams that many would have scoffed at.

One of Putnam’s first creations was a single finger that allowed a young boy to play and master clarinet. Since then he has created arms for horse back riding, legs for cheerleaders, and a specially positioned foot for a ballerina just to name a few.

“I always say the devices aren’t amazing, it’s what the kids do with them that’s incredible,” Putnam said.

One of his most recent creations belongs to Tyler Sampson, a 17-year-old pitching prodigy in Denton who is already fielding college offers despite missing one arm from the elbow down. Sampson is tall and lanky and is focused on putting on weight so he and Putnam got together to create a prosthetic arm that will allow him to hit the gym even harder.

“It’s amazing I’ve gained so much strength in just the few weeks I’ve had it,” Sampson said.

Sampson has always been determined to achieve his dreams and is supported by a family who sees his potential every day. But he says having someone like Putnam makes those dreams that much closer to becoming reality.

“He just has this charisma and he really listens,” Sampson said.

As for Putnam, he never dreamed be in a workshop in a hospital, but he says there is no place he’d rather be.

“It’s crazy I’ve come full circle. That medical dream my dad had and the artist idea I had are pretty much one,” Putnam said.

And with more patients flying into Dallas for treatment from around the world Putnam says his masterpiece project is far from done.

Occupational Therapy: Making Daily Life Easier for Our Patients

Occupational Therapy: Making Daily Life Easier for Our Patients

by | May 22, 2018 | Spotlight

At Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, our team is dedicated to providing the best possible care to every patient. At each stage of treatment, we have experts to educate the patient and their family to make the healing process a smooth one. The hospital’s Occupational Therapy department is committed to providing various techniques and equipment to make everyday living easier. We received a behind-the-scenes look of the department to learn more about the important work of our trained occupational therapists and the services they provide to our patients. 

What is Occupational Therapy?

  • The hospital’s trained therapists work with the patients to assist them in learning how to do various activities that occupy their time throughout the day.
    • Dressing themselves
    • Feeding themselves
    • Playing
  • The therapists work with patients of all ages, from birth to 18 years, in the inpatient, outpatient and clinic settings.

Inpatient services

  • Two occupational therapists are dedicated to working with the hospital’s inpatients.
  • The main focus is working with the patients and their families to make sure the patient is comfortable and safe once they leave the hospital.
  • The therapists evaluate the appropriate equipment needed to make activities and everyday living easier for the patient at home.
    • Wheelchairs
    • Bathing equipment
    • Toileting equipment

Outpatient services

  • Our therapists work with patients who have all different types of needs – including patients with upper extremity injuries or congenital conditions.
  • Custom splints are made to help the patient heal or with activities they like to do.
  • Each therapy session is unique depending on the patient and their needs. The therapists evaluate the patients to make sure they have the tools needed for daily life.
    • The use of various devices to increase strength in the arms and hands. The strengthening exercises help to gain motion back so the patient can return to the activities they enjoy.
  • Common activities that might need adaptive devices, include:
    • Brushing hair
    • Putting on socks
    • Grasping tools to participate in play – pencils or toys
    • Bathing equipment
    • Special car seats
    • Transferring equipment

Watch the occupational therapy tour to learn more about the services this department provides to our patients. 

Hometown Heroes: SRH Volunteers, Ken & Cheryl Hill

Hometown Heroes: SRH Volunteers, Ken & Cheryl Hill

by | May 14, 2018 | Press Coverage, Spotlight

Volunteer service led to wedding bells for two Texas Scottish Rite Hospital volunteers. Cheryl and Ken Hill were married April 29th in Wylie.

Cheryl’s son, Robert, lost his leg in an accident. The hospital treated him for seven years. Four years ago, he urged his mom to volunteer there.

Ken’s daughter, Gina, was treated at the hospital for autism. In gratitude, he also decided to give back as a 13-year volunteer.

Watch the full video. 

Integrated Team Approach to Patient Care Shows Positive Results

Integrated Team Approach to Patient Care Shows Positive Results

by | Apr 23, 2018 | Research & Innovation

At Scottish Rite Hospital, our experts are dedicated to caring for the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. The hospital includes six Centers for Excellence that each cultivate the mission of patient care, research, and education. Within those centers lies integrated services that allow our specialists to provide world-renowned care to every patient. 

The hospital’s psychology department is an essential component of the overall success of our patients before, during, and after treatment. As integrated members of the hospital’s health care team, our licensed psychologists work closely with our orthopedic staff to promote a healthy lifestyle for the child through clinical care, education, and ongoing research. 

Recently, an article from the hospital was published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics titled, “Perioperative Interdisciplinary Intervention Contributes to Improved Outcomes of Adolescents Treated with Hip Preservation Surgery.” It is a collaborative project including pediatric psychologists, researchers, and orthopedic surgeons. This study evaluated adolescent candidates for hip preservation surgery and the impact of perioperative interdisciplinary care on pre-operative and post-operative outcomes. Patients who undergo hip preservation surgery typically present with chronic pain lasting longer than six months, which has the potential to develop negative psychological effects on the adolescent. 

The team evaluated a total of 67 patients before and after undergoing hip preservation surgery. Our psychologists worked closely with this group of patients before surgery to provide education, counseling, and self-reported outcomes. In comparison to patients who did not receive psychological intervention prior to having surgery, those who did recorded:

  • Higher self-esteem and self-reliance
  • Less anxiety and depression
  • Decrease in school problems and social stress

In conclusion, the project revealed that pre-operative education and counseling for patients undergoing hip preservation surgery improved their overall physical and psychological function after surgery. Pediatric psychologist Heather Richard, Psy.D. is excited about the results of this research and what it means for the future of care. “This collaborative study shows the true impact education and counseling can have on a patient undergoing surgery,” says Richard. “Our psychology team is proud to be a part of an institution that understands the importance of this service and how it can positively influence the patient. We look forward to continuing our research to improve our care of the whole child.” 

Read more about the published article.