Inspired to win
Young patient artists work the runway at MD Anderson Children's Art Project
- Xythia Chandler walks the runway at the MD Anderson Children's Art Projectluncheon.Photo By Bill Olive
- Vibrant color popped on the runway.Photo By Bill Olive
- Anne Connally and Shannon Murray at the MD Anderson luncheon at the Galleria.Photo By Bill Olive
- High boots were a major runway trend.Photo By Bill Olive
There were lots of over-the-knee boots and splashes of color on the runway at the luncheon and fashion show celebrating MD Anderson's Children’s Art Project Friday, but the true stars were the young artists who wowed the Galleria crowd with their determination and creativity.
Among the honorees was 11-year-old Xythia Chandler, who won an award for her drawings Autumn Road, Gingerbread Girl, Menorah and Pink Angel. Although she was a little shy when talking about her trophy, Chandler showed a lot of spunk and worked the runway with panache.
“I was excited to get this award and I just thought I was supposed to go down the runway, so I did,” Chandler said.
Carrington Marzett is a junior at Baylor University, but she was once a young patient, suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In remission and healthy, Marzett received an Lifetime Achievement Award for her 12 different Children’s Art Project designs. Meisha Brown was also honored at the event and the college student says she knows exactly where she wants to work someday.
“Every employee of MD Anderson has always been so passionate and I am so inspired by them. I want to work there too and give back,” Brown says.
That’s just one of the reasons why Shannan Murray, executive director of the Children’s Art Project, appreciates being a part of something so special.
“They get to give a gift twice. They create it and then someone receives something meaningful. It’s one way for them to have some control when they are diagnosed,” Murray says.
After the awards came the Nordstrom fashion show, which included those thigh-grazing boots, opera-length gloves, golden earphones, scaled back military looks, hints of lace, grownup glitter and long soft relaxed curls.
The Children’s Art Project Holiday 2010 designs include traditional cards and ornaments, plus scarves, stationery, dessert plates and brand new iPhone covers decorated in various themes.