Nazareth College's Art Therapy Aphasia Clinic and the Finger Lakes Regional Burn Association hosted an art exhibit to showcase the artwork of both stroke survivors and young burn survivors.  The special exhibit was held in the College's Little Gallery at the Arts Center.

 

"The art show is the first time that the stroke survivors and the younger burn survivors will be meeting," said Horovitz, coordinator of both the Nazareth Art Therapy Aphasia Clinic and the Finger Lakes Regional Burn Association Art Therapy Clinic.  "Many of these adults and children are either unable or unwilling to speak, but they are communicating through their artwork."

 

The stroke survivors displaying their artwork range in age from their mid-40s to mid-60s.  They attend Nazareth's Aphasia Clinic for speech/language therapy and art therapy.  Aphasia is an impairment of language, affecting the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write. Aphasia is always due to injury to the brain-most commonly from a stroke, particularly in older individuals.

 

Since February 2004, Nazareth has also hosted an Art Therapy Clinic for the Finger Lakes Regional Burn Association.  Close to 10 children are transported to Nazareth once a week for art therapy with Nazareth students under the supervision of Dr. Horovitz.  The children range in age from eight to 16 years old, and they were treated at the Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong after sustaining severe burns.  The art therapy component for the young burn survivors is made possible by a grant from the Guido and Ellen Palma Foundation.

 

Many corporations such as DynaVox, Polyform Products, and Polaroid have generously donated many of the art supplies and equipment to help make the art therapy clinics possible.