Return to Main Menu

Art displayed at Citadel Mall until Feb. 13 by Cindy Abole Public Relations This year’s Children’s Hospital Happy Halls Art Contest and Exhibit inspired hundreds of Lowcountry students to create and produce art for the comfort and benefit of others.  Academic Magnet high School's Jessica Lydiard, left, joins Katherine Nguyen, Connor Richardson and other National Honor Society students hanging and arranging art entries at Citadel Mall Feb. 3. The annual event combines the talent and coordination of dozens of young artists and organizers  from around the Lowcountry to create art and inspire pediatric patients and their families spending time at the hospital.  “This has been a great program,” said Kimberly Harris-Eaton, R.N., 8CHD nurse manager and new coordinator of the Happy Halls Art Contest. “We’re so pleased with the creativeness and quality of art pieces produced by this year’s participating artists.” This year’s project attracted more than 400 entries from 37 private and public Tri-county schools, the largest participation in its 11-year history. Students submitted art from Ashley River Creative Arts, C.E. Williams Middle, Mary Ford Elementary, Montessori Community, Nativity, Porter Gaud, Divine Redeemer, James B. Edwards Elementary and other area schools. Art pieces were received and collected by Happy Halls project coordinators until late January. On Feb. 3, juniors and seniors from the Academic Magnet High School National Honor Society provided voluntary help arranging and hanging artwork at Citadel Mall for judging and public display from Feb. 4 through 13. “We’re glad to be part of this effort,” said Doug Murphy, faculty advisor, Academic Magnet High School. “Each year, our National Honor Society students are out and about conducting various forms of community service. We’ve supported this project for a number of years and hope to continue our services.” Judges for this year’s contest included Children’s Hospital Administrator John Sanders, Julia Self, R.N., Sandra Oberman, Cindy Sanders and Harris-Eaton. Just 50 art pieces were selected to adorn the foyer of MUSC Children’s Hospital.  Art students at James Island Middle School participated in the Happy Halls contest since its inception in 1994. The effort is headed by art teacher Penny Easterby, who teaches classes from sixth to eight grades. Each year, Easterby encourages her students to participate by creating and submit art pieces for Happy Halls.  “Because there is no specific theme for Happy Halls art submissions, I encourage my students to consider children of all ages, weakened by sickness or disease, plus their families and what would make them feel good and positive,” Easterby said. “It is a wonderful project for our students to participate and experience.”     Friday, Feb. 11, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.