Aug. 12--CHAPEL HILL -- Paintings by homeless men in an Atlanta drug rehab program are providing enjoyment to cancer patients in Chapel Hill.
Sharon Garrett, whose daughter Heather works for the Foundation for Hospital Art, participated in that "Operation Lovejoy" paintfest in Atlanta. When she and her husband moved to Raleigh in 2004, they organized a group at Covenant Christian Church in Cary that completed four paintings, including the ones begun by the men at Atlanta Union Mission's Carpenter's House Shelter.
Garrett arranged to donate four large paintings to the N.C. Cancer Hospital, clinical home of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The paintings will be dedicated at 10 a.m. today.
Bill Stanford will represent the Foundation for Hospital Art at the ceremony. He has supported the foundation since his friend John Feight started it 28 years ago to help bring life to otherwise lifeless walls.
Despite having Parkinson's disease, Garrett continues to help plan paintfests, where volunteers complete paintings that others have outlined in paint-by-number fashion.
UNC Hospitals has received several of these surprising works of art and has held paintfests, as well.
"It is a small gesture to help patients and families feel more at home and provide a touch of color and joy in a difficult time," said John Rockwell, interim director of Oncology Services. To see more of The News & Observer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsobserver.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008 The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.