Kids’ Creativity Builds Philanthropy!
By Lindsay Ross
Just getting there is an artistic journey. When you step off the street into CHAP’s Pearl District warehouse, you are greeted by a sign reading “Follow the pink ribbon to art fun!” Follow the ribbon up the stairs, then down a long hallway decorated with kids’ artwork – drawings, paintings and masks covered in glitter, feathers and googly-eyes. At the top of the next flight of stairs you encounter leaping ballerinas as you pass through the BodyVox dance studio. At the end of the pink ribbon, you discover the Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP) studio.
CHAP brings the healing power of art to children in crisis and their families with a mobile team of teaching artists working in Portland’s children’s hospitals -- Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children and Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital. In 2007, CHAP served more than 5,000 children & their families. CHAP offers one-on-one classes for children in isolation and group classes in hospital playrooms, lobbies and waiting rooms. CHAP classes create an art experience that engages and inspires -- where children can be seen for their artistic talents and not for their diseases, diagnoses or disabilities.
CHAP raises money for art programs in hospitals by renting their art studio to families for Art Birthday Parties. Kids get to experience the fun of making art while learning the importance of philanthropy. Families can rent the CHAP studio, and party guests make donations to CHAP in place of gifts. At a CHAP Art Birthday Party, kids can paint old t-shirts and pants to make their own “art outfits;” make a Super-Hero costume from scratch; bead bracelets, necklaces & keychains; and Jump on the Bed (kids dip their feet in paint then jump on the CHAP painted mattress)!
For info on CHAP projects or art birthday parties, visit www.chap.name, call 503-243-5294 or email lindsay@chap.name.
