CONTACT: Mary Margaret Colliver, (859) 361-1887
FOR RELEASE
Kentucky Children's Hospital Photo Selected by NACHRI
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 2, 2009) – A Kentucky Children’s Hospital photograph by Erin McAnallen, Child Life assistant at Kentucky Children's Hospital, was selected by the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) for “Champions,” its 2009 traveling exhibition of 50 photographs. The photo was chosen from nearly 250 photographs submitted to NACHRI by children’s hospitals across the country.
“The photograph depicting "Things We Use at the Hospital" stood out for its composition, quality, fit with the exhibit theme and the story it tells,” said Sallie Strang, director of communications for NACHRI and curator of the photo exhibit.
McAnallen, a member of the Kentucky Children's Hospital art committee and founder of Kreative Catz, a group of University of Kentucky art students who volunteer their time to do art with the kids at the hospital, headed up the winning photo's project.
"The photo is of one of two collaboration projects Kentucky Children's Hospital worked on for well over six months," said McAnallen. "Things We Use at the Hospital" was one of the first proposals McAnallen took to the art committee.
"I wanted to find a project that would not only include as many staff members as possible, but build a sense of communitythrough artisticconnection between employees and the hospital space. We worked on five large paintings, where four hang as a set on our eastside and the winning photo piece hangs alone on west. Nurses, patients, families, physicians, housekeeping staff, physical plant staff, residents, volunteers and administration took part while Child Life and the Kreative Catz managed the process.
"I am very proud we were recognized for our hard work and creativity and look forward to doing more projects of this nature in the future."
“The NACHRI traveling photo exhibition is designed to illustrate the vital role children’s hospitals play in children’s lives through compelling visual images of child patients at children’s hospitals, their family members and the caring and compassionate staff,” said Strang. “Collectively the exhibit demonstrates why all children need children’s hospitals. This year’s exhibit will travel across the country to include Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. where members of Congress will be invited to experience it.”
The NACHRI traveling photo exhibition is the result of a biennial competition that began in 1993 with 150 photo submissions. Over the years the competition to be selected for the traveling exhibit has grown significantly. The photo exhibit was debuted in Nashville, Tenn. recently at the Renaissance Nashville and Nashville Convention Center during the annual NACHRI conference.
Founded in 1968, NACHRI is an association of 214 children’s hospitals and related institutions devoted to improving the health and well-being of children and families through support of children’s hospitals’ four fold mission of clinical care, pediatric training, research and child advocacy. All children need children’s hospitals.
###
In striving to become a Top 20 public research institution, the University of Kentucky is a catalyst for a new Commonwealth – a Kentucky that is healthier, better educated, and positioned to compete in a global and changing economy. For more information about UK’s efforts to become a Top 20 university, please go to