Fingerprint Paintings
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, the UCLA Health System stopped allowing non-essential workers inside the hospital in an effort to decrease the risk of exposure and spread of the virus. As such, despite wanting to help, volunteers were no longer allowed to be in the hospital. The Director of Volunteer Services connected Liz White (UCLA student and volunteer for the UCLA Health Creative Arts Program) with the 3 Wishes Program to see how she might be of help. After some brainstorming, we were able to come up with the idea of commemorative Fingerprint Paintings. With permission, healthcare workers obtain the patient’s fingerprints on a blank sheet of paper. The fingerprints would then be incorporated and transformed into a one-of-a-kind painting by Liz that is then returned to the family. As the demand for the paintings became high, more volunteer artists have joined the effort (learn more about them in the bios below!). We are planning to continue providing these beautiful fingerprint paintings even as the pandemic improves and visitation restrictions are lifted.
