DOING GOOD
Accessible Art Art bus promotes healing for children with life-limiting illnesses. By Hanna McDaniels
and soul. For some Metro children, creativity and restorative care come by way of an art center on wheels. Haley Brunelle has seen just how much art can make a difference through her son, Felix, 5. “Felix was born with a one-of-a-kind chromosome deletion, presenting as several different physical challenges, medical complexity and the need for a 30-plus strong medical and therapy team to follow him on the regular,” says Brunelle. So, when Felix encountered Ziggy’s Art Bus, a bus that serves children with life-limiting illnesses by indulging their creative minds, his creative self took flight. Felix’s first creation at Ziggy’s Art Bus was a birdhouse he made three years ago that is still used today. Brunelle says, “We enjoy the chickadees that make this little birdhouse a home in our cherry tree every spring. Although Felix is nonverbal, he reminds me [of his art] when we’re watching the birds move back in [during the spring]. He points to [the birdhouse] in the tree and then to himself—he’s clearly quite proud of his work.” Founder of Ziggy’s Art Bus Gina Zaffarano of Minneapolis says she knew this artful idea had to come into play when she was introduced to Crescent Cove, a respite home and care facility for children in Brooklyn Center. “I realized when working at Crescent Cove that there was not a lot of space for creative
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December 2022/January 2023
Photos: Ziggy's Art Bus
ART HAS LONG BEEN USED AS A FORM OF HEALING the body, mind
