Children’s Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota Wins International Award for Therapeutic Art Program!

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota received the top international award for “Use of Art in the Patient Environment” from the International Academy of Design and Health for its program “Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal.”

The Minnesota healing arts program was selected out of almost 100 submissions from organizations representing more than 30 countries around the world. The award honors organizations specifically for professional excellence and ability to bring research and design into creating a health-promoting environment.

Children’s Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal project, which was launched in January 2010, has been entirely supported through the generosity of the community, through individual, corporate and government grants. The program has been well received by patients and families with 80 percent indicating in a survey that they stop and personally interact with the art. In addition, for children participating in the hands-on art projects, 41 percent said they felt better after the project.

“A growing body of evidence suggests the integration of arts positively contributes to health outcomes and the health care experience for patients, families and staff,” said Theresa Pesch, RN, executive director, Children’s Foundation, and VP, Development, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. “We believe that the experience of art is healing and designed an integrated program where our patients and families can view and interact with art, make art and watch live performances.”  

http://www.childrensmn.org/starrynight/about-the-event/art-award

I am so proud of Minnesota for being a leader in the field of art-based therapy. In order to continue growing this fantastic program, I have been asked to help co-anchor a live children’s television show broadcasted throughout the hospital! I am so excited and cannot wait to get going on this project and bring a little love, light and laughter to these young patients.

Art Heals!

Krista Wanous

Miss International 2012  

Sensory Fun with Hope Home

Today we decided to begin our workshop with a few songs for Hope Home. With the challenges of wheelchairs and limited movement of the participants, our volunteers found joy and harmony with musical instruments, as well as singing voices, to get the kids started. Nom Chok loved the music, especially loud music! He insisted on stealing our cell phones so he could put the music right onto his ear and hear it as loud as possible.

Spices used: cinnamon, ground cumin, turmeric, paprika, and chili powder. We started with just smelling the spices, feeling them with our fingers, and possibly even tasting them. The kids instantly were filled with laughs as they experienced the different smells. Volunteers helped by putting small amount of water in with the spices to give the kids an array of “paints.” 

Even though “spice paints” cannot compare in vibrancy of regular poster paint, the effect seemed to be just the same. Phil, one of the participants at Hope Home, started to explore the act of licking his paper after he had painted on some spices. Phil would laugh and smile then stick his tongue out and rub it all over his painting! It was inspiring to watch how much fun he was having. He couldn’t believe we were letting him eat the paint! 

Not every participant at Hope Home can show excitement as much as Phil can, but small movements and facial contact let us know they are loving the workshop. Near the end of the workshop, the volunteers hung a streamer curtain to hang down and blow in the wind. Some of the kids found this interesting and funny, as they watched it unexpectedly move in the air. Exploring the sense of feeling, especially the wind on one’s skin, was another aspect of this workshop. Volunteers took out foam core paper and fanned the kids. Joy smiled so big when we fanned her with 3 fans all at once! 

Overall, it was another great day at Cultural Canvas & Art Relief International. 

I am so blessed and elated to have had this special day with the most beautiful children I have ever seen. 

All my love, 

Krista Wanous

Miss International 2012

Leaving my Mark in Chiang Mai

Creating community service art projects is another way that Cultural Canvas enriches the lives of children.   On my third day, I worked with some other volunteers to create a colorful entrance for the children of Hope Home.  Each volunteer artist was allowed to decorate a band of color that would wrap around the entrance pillars.  After a bit of brainstorming the message of my section was clear, I would write ART HEALS in English and Thai and incorporate the hand print logo associated with the organization that has given me so much inspiration, Free Arts Minnesota. 

It was so much fun painting this mural. It was a sticky, hot, muggy afternoon but we didn’t mind the heat. Our rainbow mural turned out to be a colorful and delightful addition to the Hope Home entrance. 

My handprint and a piece of my heart will forever be left in Thailand!

And, my heart will forever be left with these wonderful women I got to meet during my journey. I will miss you all!

ART HEALS!

Krista Wanous

Miss International 2012 

Jet-setting to THAILAND!

This Thursday, April 18th I will board my first (of many) flights that will send me to the other side of the world! Cultural Canvas located in Chiang Mai Thailand is very excited about the arrival of Miss International and I cannot wait to get to work. We will begin our orientation on Saturday where we will learn about the Thai language, culture, traditions, religion, and lifestyle.

The Songkran Thai New Year was April 13th-15th however the celebration usually carries on throughout the entire month of April. Just like American tradition, New Years is celebrated with friends and family and includes resolution setting focused on refraining from bad behavior and to do go good things. However, they do have a New Year tradition that is very different from ours. They douse each other with water to wash away all impurities and to bring in good luck and well being for the new year. Throughout the years it has escalated to massive water fights in the streets with super soaker guns and buckets of water.

I might be lucky enough to catch the end of their celebration. After we get oriented and settled in we will get to know more about the children and families we will be working with. I am so curious to see how the Thai children adapt to my healing arts sessions. I have lots of great project ideas I have been researching for weeks! The only concern I have is the language barrier, but that is what makes art so fabulous, most of our words can be described visually through art. Whether or not we can understand each other verbally, I know we will be able to connect emotionally. Art is a universal language. 

I am looking forward to meeting the other volunteers. There will be a handful of people from all over the world. Together, we will plan and implement a healing art curriculum to children living in poverty, with disabilities, to battered women and their children, and women seeking refuge after escaping from human trafficking.  I am hoping we all have very different world perspectives to bring to the table and all tougher, we will develop some brilliant project plans. 

My best friend Melanie Hoang will be accompanying me as my chaperone because Mama Wanous would never let me get that far away form her, alone! Melanie works for a really cool company, Bobiam, which supports Free Arts Minnesota so it was a natural choice for her to accompany me. We have known each other for 8 years and I am so thankful she was able to be my sidekick for this three-week adventure. Keep watching the blog for updates and wish us luck!

Please send your hopes, best wishes, and prayers! He hears them all.

Thank you to everyone who donated and made this trip possible,

Krista Wanous

Miss International 2012

Free Arts Minnesota – Art Heals Breakfast!

 

I was a table host at the 2012 Art Heals Breakfast for Free Arts Minnesota. A group of my biggest supporters and loved ones joined me very early in the morning to get an exclusive look at Free Arts MN programs, statistical outcomes, personal testimonials, and even a live poetry reading by a few of our junior high youth.

 

Pictured above is my mom and dad, my long time fairy godmother Cheri Kennedy, mock interview judge and back- up-mother Marcia Anderson, Carolina Reyes former Miss Minnesota International, current Mrs. Saint Paul International Andrea Bennett-Xiong and husband Tou Bennett-Xiong, and Nicole Berg my new pageant friend. I was so blessed to have a table full of people who have made such a difference in my life over the past year. I was excited for them to lean about the Free Arts MN programs from someone other than myself, and I am sure they were too! I can talk about the benefits of art for days, but it is a whole different message when it comes from the youth who have experienced our mentoring first hand.

 

Here is one of the young men who shared how Free Arts made him feel in a spoken word, poetic rap form. He didn’t stop smiling for one second while he was on stage.

 

The next youth speaker had quite a story to tell. Her father sexually abused her for many years of her life with no outlet or help of any kind.

 

Here are Tia’s words….

"...I think that Free Arts is an amazing program. It has helped me and changed my life, and I have witnessed it do the same for my peers. It is a great way for me to connect with my peers when we all work on a project together. Some of them struggle with projects, others dive right in, but almost everyone creates something every time. I don’t know what my day treatment or my life would look like without my involvement in Free Arts.
There are many reasons why Free Arts is great. One reason is that I know there are other kids like me who do not have the resources or support they need to create art. There are also kids who have trouble expressing themselves, and Free Arts teaches them to do that. Finally, Free Arts is great because it is made almost entirely of volunteers. It is good to know that they choose to spend their time with us every week. It is good to know that someone thinks we are worth their time, and that they want to share their passion with us.
I know that this program has a deeply profound effect on all those involved. I like to think it is a necessary part of our community. I believe that art is an important part of life, and whether or not someone loves art, it is still important to experience it. Free Arts helps bring art to those who may not have had the opportunity to make it before.
I am forever grateful to Free Arts for reigniting my love of art. I think, and hope, that other children get to experience everything I have with Free Arts."

 

Watch this video for details about Tia and other youth talk about their experience with Free Arts MN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A249ACW-frQ&feature=player_embedded

 

 

I always get choked up hearing the kids speak about how their outlook on life has changed because of Free Arts MN. I am so proud to be able to represent an organization I believe in so much! This year was very successful and I can’t wait to see what Free Arts MN has in store for next year! Thank you to my friends and family who attending this event with me. Each one of you is a blessing and I appreciate all you do and your continued encouragement.

 

ART HEALS!!

XOXO,

Krista Wanous
Miss International 2012

Free Arts – Art Heals Breakfast!

Every year Free Arts Minnesota has a breakfast fundraiser. Unlike Art Incognito, our fundraiser last week, the Art Heals Breakfast is a gathering of Free Arts supporters to learn about our mentor programs and to hear about the benefits from children who have experienced it first hand. It is a fun filled morning of pancakes, entertainment, testimonials, and inspirational stories. I will be hosting my own table this year and am so excited to be able to show my friends and supporters just exactly what Free Arts does and how beneficial it is to the children.

 

 

Registration is required to attend!

Please sign up by contacting me @ 2012MissInternational.com, online or call the office to register - 612.824.2787 


Attend our free fundraising breakfast and join 400 individuals and business representatives from your community. You will see a portion of our programs showcasing the healing effects of the creative arts for the children that we serve.  Throughout our program, Free Arts informs and inspires you, our community, to support our efforts in transforming young lives through artistic expression. 
While this is a fundraiser, there is no minimum or maximum gift expected.

Art Heals! Breakfast 2012


Thursday, November 8
Metropolitan Ballroom
 5
418 Wayzata Blvd

Minneapolis, MN 55416 


8 - 9 am

 

 

See you there!

Love always,

Krista Wanous
Miss International 2012

Dr. Ashfaq Ishaq

I am the Healing Arts spokesperson for the International Child Art Foundation. This organization was founded and lead by Dr. Ashfaq Ishaq. He is an extremely accomplished man with incredible background. Here is a link to an interview he did recently pertaining to the International Child Art Foundation and the increasing popularity with cyber networking and digital technology. http://www.icaf.org/about/Dr.%20Ishaq%20interview%20with%20Cybertherapy%20&%20Rehabilitation.pdf

Ashfaq is a huge role model and inspiration to me. He is kind, generous, welcoming and one of the most interesting men I have ever encountered. Below, is a brief paragraph about his credentials and history.  Ashfaq has a unique perspective that we can achieve global peace through art.

Ashfaq Ishaq, Ph.D.
Chairman, International Child Art Foundation

Dr. Ashfaq Ishaq founded the International Child Art Foundation to harness children’s imagination for positive social change.  His belief that creativity and empathy are preconditions for a more just, prosperous and nonviolent world is based on his seminal research at the World Bank and the George Washington University on entrepreneurship and small business development, military burden and security needs, digital divide and the new economy, and private provision of public services.  His familiarity with the power of the arts as an effective channel for children’s creative and empathic development stems from his experience as an award-winning child artist. The Arts Olympiad program he developed to overcome the “4th grade slump” in creativity documented by E. Paul Torrance is today the world’s largest and most prestigious arts and creative education initiative for children ages 8 to 12.  Nearly 3 million children worldwide participated in the 3rd Arts Olympiad (2005-2008). The 2007 World Children’s Festival he produced on the National Mall in Washington, DC was the world’s largest international children’s Celebration.  Dr. Ishaq has obtained an exclusive license from the U.S. Olympic Committee for the ICAF to use “Arts Olympiad” and related marks as well as secured support from some of the world’s most creative companies – Adidas, Disney, Faber-Castell, Hilton, and LEGO.

I am so honored to be able to work with such a distinguished man. His unique view on the world always inspires me to keep reaching out no matter how often I get turned down. I know that art heals, and by working with the International Child Art Foundation, I can make a significant difference in the lives of children by giving them the gift of imagination and creativity.

Art is everything!
Xo,

Krista Wanous
Miss International 2012

Stories of Success, Stories of Hope

I feel it is necessary to share the stories of the children I advocate for. Through art, they found their voice and the courage to tell their story. Below, are a few of my favorite stories and thank you letters from children who have gone through a Free Arts MN mentoring program. These programs are more than just an arts and crafts class; they are a respite and place of freedom to express inner thoughts and emotions.

Here are two great links to videos where kids tell us how
they feel about Free Arts programming.

My Story… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cYachviFn8

Free Arts Is… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-9o5t2jb9U

Thank You Poem
“Free Arts has been more than just a group of volunteers,
It's a movement, a esteem builder and a learning tool all in one.
The people of Free Arts has taught us lessons that will help carry us through a life time, and that is to believe, believe in your self and the power to move others through art.
We also learned that art doesn't just happen with a pencil and pen but it really starts from within.
Art is a healer for the mind, body and soul,
Free Arts helps us recognize talents that we thought could never show.
From dancing, singing, putting on plays to drawing, writing and learning about artists that made the way.
Free Arts helped us find something we can never forget,
Talent and with that all we can do is win.
Thanks Free Arts, from us to you here’s an art form we learned from you.”

Charlie, Age 4
Four-year-old Charlie was worthless. At least that’s what his mother would tell him as she slapped the small boy across the face or punched him in the chest. Why would the young boy think otherwise? Charlie was left at home alone all day only to be greeted by his drunken mother's abuse at night. He never knew what a loving adult relationship felt like.

When Charlie was finally removed from his mother’s custody and introduced to Free Arts Minnesota, he would flinch anytime a volunteer would raise his or her hand. It was Free Arts Minnesota volunteers who reached out to Charlie, teaching him that not every adult wanted to hurt him. By the end of his first year with Free Arts Minnesota, it was Charlie
who was reaching out, giving all the volunteers he had grown to love good-bye hugs.

Tia, Age 18
"...I think that Free Arts is an amazing program. It has helped me and changed my life, and I have witnessed it do the same for my peers. It is a great way for me to connect with my peers when we all work on a project together.
Some of them struggle with projects, others dive right in, but almost everyone creates something every time. I don’t know what my day treatment or my life would look like without my involvement in Free Arts.
There are many reasons why Free Arts is great. One reason is that I know there are other kids like me who do not have the resources or support they need to create art.
There are also kids who have trouble expressing themselves, and Free Arts teaches them to do that. Finally, Free Arts is great because it is made almost entirely of volunteers.
It is good to know that they choose to spend their time with us every week.
It is good to know that someone thinks we are worth their time, and that they want to share their passion with us.
I know that this program has a deeply profound effect on all those involved.
I like to think it is a necessary part of our community. I believe that art is an important part of life, and whether or not someone loves art, it is still important to experience it. Free Arts helps bring art to those who may not have had the opportunity to make it before.
I am forever grateful to Free Arts for reigniting my love of art. I think, and hope, that other children get to experience everything I have with Free Arts."

Terron Age 10
By the time Terron reached his 10th birthday, he had already spent three months in a psychiatric hospital. His cocaine-addicted mother routinely exposed him and his four siblings to abuse at the hands of other drug addicts, often locking Terron in a closet for hours while his brothers and sisters were beaten. Even after Terron was removed from his mother’s custody, therapy alone was not enough to help him deal with his feelings.

It was the Free Arts Minnesota program and volunteers that helped Terron find a new way to express himself. His drawings were his escape and allowed Terron to channel his feelings into something other than hurting himself. When asked what he liked about Free Arts Minnesota, Terron replied, “It’s a secret place… where you can go and think about anything and everything or nothing.”

Evans, Age 9
I think about my mom and sister.  Beautiful like this flower.
I think about what I want.  I want to create robots.
I want my own room. I want to get better at math.
I think about what I need.  I need a family.
I think about what I fear.  I fear heights.  A little bit.
I think about what I wish for.  I wish I had a family.  I wish I was a professional soccer player.  I wish to have a good paying job.
I think about what I hope for.  I hope to find a good family.
I think about what I expect.   I expect to have a good family that loves me.
I think about what I love.  I love my mom and candy.

Well, I think we can all agree, candy is great… but these poems give children a sense of themselves and an opportunity to think abut what they want out of life. In school, kids are constantly being crammed full of memorized facts, numbers and information. We need to be able to provide them with a chance to think their own thoughts and ideas. Art can do this. Children who have been through traumatic situations can greatly benefit with the programs provided by Free Arts Minnesota and their mentors and they help foster emotional growth, safe adult relationships, great self-awareness and self-esteem.

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
-Frederick Douglas

ART HEALS!

Krista Wanous
Miss International 2012

Myths about Art Therapy

“The Healing Arts”

So, as many of you know, I am on my way to a Masters degree in Art Therapy. This field comes so second nature to me but the more I talk about it, the more I realize how many people have no idea what Art Therapy means. Since today was my first day back at school I think it is a good time to clear up a few myths about what Art Therapy is and how it helps.

MYTH #1: Art Therapy is like an arts and craft class where you learn to paint, draw, and make artsy things.
The goal of Art Therapy is not to “teach” art but to use art in a therapeutic capacity. The Art Therapist might sometimes give instructions on how to use the materials or specific methods, so as to facilitate your artistic endeavor.

MYTH #2: Art Therapy can only benefit people with artistic talents.
You DO NOT need to be good at art. Art Therapy values the art making process more than the finished product. You will not be judged by your artistic ability or your ability to talk about your artwork.  The Art Therapist can work with your apprehension and introduce art making at a comfortable pace with you.

MYTH #3: Art Therapy is only for children and people who can’t communicate verbally.
Art is an effective tool for non-verbal expression of stories and emotions. Art Therapy has been associated with children and people who could not express themselves or their situation with words. Nevertheless, Art Therapy can also be a powerful way to engage adults and people from a broad range of settings such as schools, mental health facilities, medical clinics, nursing homes, community centers, art studios, corporations, and non-profit agencies.

MYTH #4: Art Therapy can be very beneficial for people who are struggling with severe physical or mental conditions, addiction, trauma, or life changes.
That doesn’t mean others can’t benefit from Art Therapy. You may seek Art Therapy as a method of creating positive changes in life. Art Therapy is also a wonderful way to wellness, performance enhancement, emotional reparation, recovery, and ultimately transformation.

MYTH #5: The Art Therapist will just stare in silence while you draw during the at therapy session.
Silence can be a powerful aspect within the therapeutic relationship, but it does not define the way most therapists work. Different Art Therapists have their own personal style within the therapeutic relationship. Some will create art with you at times, while others will not. Some may encourage you to make art before you share you thoughts, while others may intervene and ask questions along the way.

MYTH #6: The Art Therapist will know all about you by looking at and interpreting your artwork.
Although sometimes Art Therapists are trained in understanding images and symbols, the meaning of your artwork is always derived directly from you, your personal associations and feelings. The Art Therapist will help you achieve greater understanding and consider multiple meanings in your artwork by asking questions for you to consider, rather than supplying you with the answers.

MYTH #7: The Art Therapist cannot be your primary therapist, because they are not real therapists.
An Art Therapist is a trained psychotherapist who specializes in the use of art making and the creative process within the therapeutic relationship. A registered Art Therapist is required to undergo a two year full-time Master degree training program, with nearly 900 clinical placement hours under strict supervision and assessment, before becoming  qualified. Like other mental health professionals, Art Therapists have the qualifications to be primary therapist and be part of a treatment team, made up of psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, social worker, etc...

Krista Wanous

My Goals This Year

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

-Winston Churchill

As Miss International 2012 I will continue to set new goals for myself as well as follow through with the goals I set for myself as Miss Minnesota International 2012. I will continue to help expand the Free Arts Mentoring program by speaking and educating everyone I encounter about the benefits of arts based mentoring. I will also speak out and spread awareness about the International Child Art Foundation and their efforts to help children express and overcome experiences with natural disasters through art. Awareness is good but action is better. I will take action by approaching and building relationships with corporate sponsors. I have already been working with the Wal-Mart Foundation to raise funds for Free Arts Minnesota. I promised Free Arts Minnesota I would bring them $10,000 by the end of my reign. I have also been asked to raise funds for the International Child Art Foundation. If I raise enough, it would allow me to host the Art Olympiad exhibit in Minnesota for the first time. The Art Olympiad Exhibit is compiled artwork made by children from around the world that depicts their favorite sport in the Olympics. I would love to partner with the American Heart Association for this event and encourage children and families to have “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies!”

The International Child Art Foundation has also asked me to speak on the grounds of the nations capital during the next World Children’s Festival, the largest celebration of children and art! They have also extended an invitation for me to join them in Taipei, Taiwan to attend the International Conference on Creativity and to a Healing Arts workshop and Encouragement Art exhibition in Tohoku, Japan where children suffered from earthquakes and tsunamis. With all that said, I will be focused on recruiting many sponsors and donors. I will be reaching out to corporate supporters of the arts, LEGO, Hilton, and Yahoo as well as continuing to partner with The Wal-Mart Foundation. To raise money for my own personal travel expenses I am organizing an art auction of my own personal artwork and artwork made by children in art mentoring.

But its not just all about the fundraising, its about making a personal one on one connection and mentoring children. I am not just the type of queen who does the glamorous jobs. I enjoy kicking off my heels and getting hands on. My most enjoyable and significant moments were when I made a personal connection with a child playing on the floor, digging through a sand box, or getting covered in paint. I love those special little moments when a kid can see an adult as just a big kid, on their level. I hope to be able to continue mentoring through Free Arts, but with this new busy schedule I am just taking it one day at a time and only taking on tasks I know I can accomplish. As hard as it is, sometimes I have to say “No” to opportunities or events I would love to attend and be apart of. But, I have to stay focused because this year is going to fly past me. In the blink of an eye I will be standing back on that stage again, giving up my title.

I also help to continue volunteering for organizations like the American Heart Association, Special Olympics, Girl Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and arts organizations like Americans for the Arts, Art in Action, Art Therapy Alliance, and Art Therapy Without Boarders.

I want to reach as far and as wide as possible this year and make the most of every second. I am open to this journey and anywhere it takes me!

Continue to Dream,
XOXO

Krista Wanous
Miss International 2012

My Platform: Past, Present & Future

I have always relied on Art to communicate, express myself, gain insight, relax, and ultimately to self-understanding and satisfaction. There is nothing better than completing a piece of artwork I have envisioned in my head and finally seeing it transformed into a tangible visual form. 

This avenue of expression was something I discovered at a very young age. My father dealt with Depression that went undiagnosed or treated until I was 13 years old. Memories of my childhood are full of anger, violence, fear, and resentment. I would come up with every excuse in the book to stay away from home, to go to a friend’s house, or help out in the classrooms after school. Coming home was like having to walk on egg shells. I had to be aware of every move I made and every word I said, so as not to make my father angry. For a little girl, this is a nightmare. I was not free to run and play in the house, to make a mess, or to have accidents. I felt that no one understood, not my friends of family. The only way I could tell my story in a safe place was with my notebook.

I wrote this poem when I was 9 years old. It went on to win Editors Choice by Poetry Magazine. It’s called, Hiding.

I want to burn the bridges
I want to forget the past
And I long to get away
From that which will never last

I long to learn
I long to see
I long to hold, dreams I believe
I long to laugh
I long to love
The only one who knows, above.

I know that I will carry
The sorrow and the strife
I know that I cannot escape
The past that is my life

My notebook was a best friend that I could trust with all my secrets. I would hide in my closet at night with a strand of Christmas lights, notebook and pen, and “escape” for hours. It was a safe place where I could be messy, make mistakes, and honestly express how I felt without judgment or punishment. Simply releasing my emotions regarding my home life was my first experience with art and creative expression.

In junior high I began having irregular heartbeats and was monitored closely by doctors. I did everything from the EKG testing, wearing a heart monitor, and many different relaxation techniques. This was a frustrating time for me because I was just beginning to get involved in competitive cheerleading, but because of my heart issues I had to sit out of many practices. I was perceived as a slacker when I couldn’t do the conditioning or extensive strength training.  I was constantly out of breath and had intense pressure in my chest. I could feel my heart beating so hard like it was going to pop out of my chest. I would get dizzy and black out. I felt weak and woozy. It was so frustrating! It was keeping me from finally being a part of a team, a family. Finally doctors agreed that the best treatment for me was a Cardio Ablation. At the time, this was a very new and innovative procedure. In order to fix the communication between nodes, which sends electrically impulses that make the heart beat, the doctors had to completely stop my heart for over a minute. My mom was very scared and so was I. The day before going into surgery, I made this…
Age 13, Healing.

I am very lucky to say that the procedure at the Minneapolis Children Hospital was a success.  I have had zero irregular heart rhythms. I am completely healed!

As I entered high school, my favorite classes were Art and Psychology. I know beauty queens are supposed to be perfect in every way, but I certainly am not one of those. I was not an A+ student. Because of what was going on at home, I had little motivation in the classroom. Especially math! Instead of working on word problems and equations, I was in the back doodling extravagant pictures and designs all over my notebooks. Full of teenage angst, “Doodling is a sign of genius!” I would reply to teachers who questioned scribbles. Honestly, I didn’t care much about scholastic success.  I was a bit rebellious… except when I was doing art.

When I was free to create or nurture others who were hurting, I was truly happy.  This is when I began to catch a small glimpse of my purpose.  I began to see the need to develop leadership skills so I could take a stand with those who had lost their voice, those who were also hurting.

College was a time of growth for me. I began to start my own life, away from my parents and home, and finally saw that I could be in control of my future. I didn’t have to be controlled by my dad anymore. I took classes that broadened my view of art, psychology, and human mind, and how we communicate visually. I graduated this year from Saint Cloud State University with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and I am taking classes for my Master degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and Art Therapy. 

College was also a very sad time for me; I lost all four of my grandparents. Art helped me reflect and remember them. I painted this portrait of my grandmother while tears streamed form my eyes and I reminisced all the lovely times I had with her.

Heavenly, Age 22

My platform was an easy choice, because it is who I am. My past, my present and my future. It is who I always wanted to be, but never knew I could be.

“Through art and the creative process, I found I could say things I could not describe, things I had no words for.”  Georgia O’Keeffe

In order to “Heal Lives through Creative Expression” I have partnered with two organizations. On a local and national level, I promote and work with Free Arts. They are a non-profit organization that was founded by an Art Therapist who saw a great need for abused, neglected, and homeless children to be able to express themselves creatively, imagine, and build trusting relationships with adults. Free Arts works in teams of 4-6 adult volunteer mentors. The mentors to go sites where children are living or staying; homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, elementary schools, community centers, Boys and Girls Clubs of America…etc. The mentors work with the children on-site making creative expression projects a few hours every week. The projects are designed to help the children deal with a particular issue they are facing. If we are in a teenage rehabilitation center where the kids have dealt with self-injury or suicide, we might make paper jewelry, an opportunity for self-expression because often their jewelry is taken away for safety reason. If we were working with girls who had eating disorders, we would do projects that aim to focus on positive traits or attributes they like about themselves.

We help the kids see that they do have people in their life who care about them and want them to heal. By utilizing art as a tool for communication, we can start building relationships and overcoming adversity through visual creation. I personally mentor every week, write curriculum, recruit corporate sponsors, and raise funds and advocate for children who are in similar or worse situations like mine.

While serving as Miss Minnesota International I brought a day of Free Arts to the city of St. Cloud for the first time expanding Free Arts reach outside of the metro areas.  I started with a city and campus wide collection of used art supplies and later received sponsorship from local business.  I also initiated the governor’s proclamation of a statewide “Free Arts Day” in Minnesota. 

As Miss International I will be traveling to each of the Free Arts affiliates across the nation to discuss best practice, fundraising techniques, and develop healing arts curriculum.

On a global level, I also volunteer as the Healing Arts Spokesperson for ICAF, the International Child Art Foundation. ICAF is the largest children’s art organization in the world having served over 5 million children. Their mission is to employ the power of the arts for the development of creativity and empathy – key attributes of successful learners and leaders.  ICAF identifies imaginative children and inspires them to embrace lifelong creativity and develop empathy – pathways to sustainability and global competitiveness. At the global level, ICAF brings together the world’s creative children, transforms them into peace leaders and ties the knot that may unfold in collaborative innovation. They have many different programs, but specifically speak about the benefits of art for children who have survived natural disaster. I have been asked to speak on the grounds of our nations capital during the World Children’s Festival, travel to Tokyo to attend the International Conference on Creativity, go to Japan to work with tsunami survivors, and to secure enough funds to bring the Art Olympiad exhibit to Minnesota for the first time (an exhibit made up of children’s artwork from across the world that represents their favorite sport in the Olympics). I am thrilled to take on these challenges!

I know from personal experience that ART HEALS! It has changed the way I see the world and my ability to express to others how I see and interpret life experiences.  It has helped me build relationships and communicate to others, even people who don’t speak the same language. Art is a universal language and I will continue to bring healing into the lives of those in need of creative expression.

“I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.” – Georgia O’Keeffe

All my Love,

Krista Wanous
Miss International 2012