August August 2017
www.MoonValleyTattler.com
VOL 37 No. 8
ART MENDS: HELPING PEOPLE HEAL BY SUSAN MERCER HINRICHS, REPORTER Art matters and art mends. It’s the power of color, shape, texture and form generated upon receptive media. It’s created with paints, pens, pencils, paste or even computer-generated programs. It’s the passion that’s driven Moon Valley artist Mark A. Hicks ever since the then four- or five-year old took up drawing. That passion remains strong today, as Hicks continues his life’s work. But now, in addition to his titles of artist, illustrator, designer and writer, he’s added yet another: philanthropist. “I was given a gift as an artist and I’ve been able to use it over the years, which is something I love, but it’s not always been easy,” Hicks says. “But it is my responsibility as a human being to do something (with it), however small, to make someone else’s life more comfortable.” “That’s my philosophy and I’ve done it.” This is what he’s done: Hicks established a personal charitable project called Art Mends. It’s the endeavor through which he donates art supplies to the Maricopa Integrated Health System’s medical center at 2601 E. Roosevelt St., in Phoenix. The free supplies go to children and adults hospitalized there to give them a creative outlet as they mend from challenging illnesses. Hicks says he came up with the idea some time ago and finally was able to put it into action three years ago. “So, I thought, art heals and they (people associated with art’s benefits) know that -- there’s studies on that -- art helps you heal,” Hicks says. He talked to people at the medical center, learning their art budget
KOMEN IS LEAVING AZ. URGENCY IN KEEPING OUR BREAST CANCER DOLLARS LOCAL!
was quite limited. “So it was my goal to bring whatever art supplies they needed, so the kids there in the wards and in the burn unit could have artwork – things to do while in the hospital and be creative, to help them heal, maybe faster.” Adults hospitalized at the medical center also benefit from being able to create with Hicks’s art supplies, which he buys using money generated from sales of his artwork, books and websites. Kyla Mohney, the Child Life Coordinator at the MIHS Arizona Children’s Center, has worked with Hicks over the course of Art Mends. She lauds him and his project and wrote in an email: “Now, kids can be as creative as they choose with all of the supplies that Mark provides to MIHS, ranging from paint, pom poms, pipe cleaners, glue, googly eyes, craft sticks, seasonal crafts and much more.” “I love walking by the playroom and seeing the smiles on our patient’s (sic) faces as they work on art projects and then they proudly hang and display their work for all to see. We even have patients tell us how much fun they have here that they don’t want to leave the hospital -- that’s when I know we have done our job well.” Hicks says while continuing to work with the MIHS, he’d also like to extend his charitable project to other hospitals, if possible. Oh, yes; and Hicks illustrates and writes books, too. He helped create an asthma-activity book for MIHS patients, explaining in pictures and words the many facets of the disease and how to control it. Illustrating ranks premier among his preferred art forms. His favorite illustrator: Newell Convers “N.C.” Wyeth, an American, whom Hicks calls a “classic book illustrator.” Among the books Hicks illustrated and written are some personal favorites: his charming children’s book titled, “A Picnic Day,” dedicated to his daughter, Cyanna; another, “The Grand Adventure,” Continued on page 3
B Y H O L LY R O S E , D O N ' T B E A C H U M P C H E C K F O R A L U M P CALLING ATTENTION to all Arizona residents and companies who support breast cancer awareness, education, prevention and direct assistance. Komen is closing their doors in Arizona the end of this month! This is going to be detrimental to our community. In case you were not aware Komen helped fund education for close to 200,000, over 50,000 screening mammograms and close to 9,000 diagnostic procedures in 2016 alone!!! There absence will impact the health of women in our community.