Featured Artist: Lila
By Cassandra Lacroix, AMFT, ATR-P
Lila has been at BCH since January, totaling 17 weeks. During this time, her ability to move, speak and breathe was greatly diminished, but she found ways to continue expressing herself through art as she slowly recovers.
Bed 11 & 12
“I started these paintings while in PICU and have continued them on TCUP to have a creative project to keep me busy. I try to do a couple of them each week and take inspiration from the things I see around me. I paint something that symbolizes a significant event from the day or something I’d like to remember. I really like looking for hidden colors in the objects I paint as it helps me view these everyday hospital items in a different, more appealing way. It’s a new style of art for me and I have enjoyed using limited set of colors and figuring out the best ways to layer them.”
Blue Light Slowed
“My memory of my sister and I at the beach inspired this painting and poem below. My process of painting felt poetic in and of itself and deepened my connection to the poem’s meaning. My respiratory therapist was the one who first inspired me to explore poetry, providing prompts to guide me. This prompt encouraged me to write a poem that only one person would understand, I chose my sister. It was a meaningful and rewarding challenge.”
Relaxed, Uncertain, Loopy
“This artwork reflects how I was feeling that day—relaxed, uncertain, and a little loopy”.
Ripping
“I didn’t like it at first, but now I think it looks pretty cool. Sometimes, you create something and don’t appreciate it in the moment, but stepping away gives you a new perspective. Coming back to it, I see it differently. It was a strange experience, and I’m not sure I enjoyed it while I was making it, but pushing through and seeing what came of it was worthwhile. Art can be challenging, but there’s always something to gain from my process. My art therapist and I were exploring the theme of becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable, and this piece really embodied that for me.”
Heart Tote Bag
“I started crocheting this bag before I was admitted to the hospital. I did most of it and finished it in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit). It was a great activity to pass the time, and I enjoyed making something functional!”
