WPCNR WHITE PLAINS ART NEWS. By John F. Bailey. December 8, 2005: White Plains good old Westco Productions introduced its second “Healing Walls” creation at a major medical center in White Plains this morning, and new sponsorship was announced for the Children’s Rehabilation Center (originally built by Thomas and Agnes Carvel on the White Plains St. Agnes Hospital Campus).

 “Healing Walls” is the charming mural creation project program created by Westco Producer Susan Katz who introduced Westco’s original colorful murals at White Plains Hospital Center Pediatric Ward last Spring.

Robert Ruger. “Mr. White Plains,” the conscience of White Plains and a philanthropist of the heart for about the last 100 years, was one of the first to step up and donate the cost of the wall.  Ruger said it was a wonderful concept, and asked rhetorically, “who wouldn’t want to do this for kids. I just had to donate a wall.”Photo, WPCNR Art News

Today the second unveiling of new  “Healing Walls” was showcased with a Breakfast Reception for the “donors with a heart”  who made the Children’s Rehabilitation Center Healing Walls possible by donating the cost of creating the murals painted by White Plains artist Ann Ferencz at the Center on the former St. Agnes Hospital grounds.

Ann and Peter Vinci beside the Mural they dedicated as a memorial to their two sons who were treated at CRC. Photo, WPCNR Arts

Muralist Ann Ferencz beside her favorite mural at CRC, The Tree House. Photo, WPCNR Arts

Ms. Ferencz painted to doctors’ and therapists’ tastes, decorating the halls and offices with gala colorful children’s scenes exploring the whimsy and wonder of life with bursts of colors and engaging animal characters. One doctor wanted a barnyard scene painted. Another family, memorialzing their two sons who were treated at CRC, requested a hallway mural featuring bears and wolves. The effect of “Healing Walls” is to take a place of fear and uncertainty and turn it (a hospital) into a wonderland of “enchantment” that melts away the trauma of therapeutic treatement, and even, doctors say, plays a role in treatment every day.

Pat Turci, right, Executive Director of Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in New York, announced the CRC was to become an affiliate of Elizabeth Seton in the Spring. With her is Maoureen Tomkiel, Executive Director of CRC, and Dr. Maria Picci, Medical Director. Photo, WPCNR Arts

At the reception where the media was given a tour of the center, it was announced  by Pat Turci, Executive Director of the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in New York, that the Children’s Rehabilitation Center was going to become an affiliate of the Seton Center in the spring, “depending on the state reimbursement. Everything’s going to stay the same. It’s just a change in sponsorship. The Archdiocese of New York asked the Sisters of Charity, would  they be interested (in running CRC), because we run the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in Manhattan and it’s a similar population of children. We felt CRC matched our mission and that we could help out and financially get the center in the right direction.”

Ms. Turci said the Sisters would “stabilize” the Center’s funding.

Susan Katz  (Center) welcomed the gathering of donors, saying, “I want to thank the CRC for working with us on this, and I hope this fulfills some of the needs that you had.” Photo, WPCNR ARTS

She thanked some of the donors that were present who included Brian and Beth Wallach, The White Plains Rotary Club, Jim and Robin Benerofe, Councilman Robert Ruger,  Jeff and Molly Werner,  and the Vinci Family,  who donated the monetary gifts  to create the Healing Walls.

Speaking on the unusual effects of Healing Walls,  Maureen Tomkiel, Executive Director of CRC said, “The therapists here are very creative, very caring and very loving and are able to incorporate the art not only as art but as motivation for the children to walk to the next part of the wall, to touch the wall or to pick something up. We thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Dr. Maria Picci, Susan Katz, (Center), and Artist Ann Ferencz. Photo by WPCNR Arts

Katz said she came up with the idea for creating walls that tell a story and engage when she experienced surgery herself 18 months ago and found herself staring at “mustard colored walls with $1 paintings. I thought there’s got to be a better way to speed up the recuperation process and to help patients with healing. Healing Walls came about. We started at White Plains Hospital last spring. We’re just about moving in here. We’ve got a lot to do, there’s still a lot of walls who need sponsors, so if anyone would like to sponsor a wall or an examination room or an office wall, it’s $600.

A Barnyard  on a Healing Wall Turns a Doctor's Office into an Enchanted, not-so-frightening-place. Photo by WPCNR ARTS.

Ms. Ferencz, the muralist, speaking to the gathering, said seeing her work in interaction with the children is fascinating: “The kids are fabulous. They’re the best part. Even though the staff is excellent, you have to see what the kids are like  when they’re walking in here. This is their home. This is where they really feel comfortable. I want to encourage you all to reassess your feelings about little children with braces. They are not fragile.  These are some of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”

Ferencz has painted 8 walls so far at CRC, some of which she said took two days, some a day, and every time she comes in she adds to them. “The nice thing about painting here when you have a long time assignment, it just flows. You have all your paints out, and once you’ve established a theme, there weren’t any pencils after the first. The kids each one has some kind of special difference about them, and when they come here  they’re not different here. This is their domain.”

Asked by WPCNR what her next project was, Ms. Ferencz said she hoped to do more Healing Walls: “I’d like to keep this Healing Walls going. It enables local establishments to spruce up their walls. Sue is right. When you have little postage stamp dollar store posters it sends a message that this isn’t an important place.”