JB Lyndhurst Art Therapist Honored as a "World Changer"

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Julie Billiart Schools is proud to learn that Mrs. Hughes, our JB Lyndhurst Art Therapist, was recently honored by an online exhibition for not only her art, but also her heart. The Healing Power of Art & Artists recognized Mrs. Hughes as a "world changer" because of her work with JB kids. Congratulations, Mrs. Hughes!

This article was written by Renee Phillips and is part of a series on The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS website titled “World Changers".

Diane Fleisch Hughes

Diane Fleisch Hughes is an outstanding artist and also an Art Therapist/LPC. She has participated in numerous community art and healing projects around the world. In 2019 she went to Cusco, Peru and worked at a school for special needs children. She wrote, “We learned so much witnessing the compassion and care of the children along with a lot of communication and behavior tips! They loved the art materials we brought and were eager to express themselves.”

Her work shown above titled “Entwined”, mixed media on watercolor paper, 48″ x 60″, was selected for the exhibition. When she submitted this piece she wrote, “Research shows us that having the love and support from another greatly increases our ability to overcome adversity. Relationships foster resiliency. These paintings attempt to show the importance of support and unconditional love without judgement through the bond of sisters. Resilience can grow and be nurtured in many ways but resilience rests, fundamentally, on relationships.”

Community work is very important to Diane. She did her Master’s thesis on community art. “I work full time as an Art Therapist at Julie Billiart School which is a K-8 school for special needs children. I do art therapy with groups, individual children who may be in crisis or struggling with a life event and a parent support group. Every other Thursday evening I arrange and support a life drawing session for local artists who may not have access to models.”

She adds, “I try to get involved in as many community art events as possible but this past year it has been challenging. When the pandemic hit, I took an online course in telehealth to be sure I was meeting people in an ethical and HIPPA compliant way, and then provided services online.”

Read the full article by Renee Phillips