Health & Wellness Programs
Healing Through Art (In-person & Online) You choose whether to attend in person or virtually via Zoom!

Overview
Relax through the process of art-making!
Join our FREE program for patients and caregivers of both the Cancer Center and Center for Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery at Lowell General Hospital.
This Healing Through Art program provides cancer and weight management patients and their caregivers a creative way to meet others while working through their health journeys. All sessions will be held in a hybrid format — both in person and virtually — from 9:00am-12:00pm (noon) on the second Saturday each month (with a summer break). The class is open to beginners and experienced artists alike, and is offered FREE through Lowell General Hospital.
In this program, you will:
- Learn to express yourself using the visual art media of your choice
- Connect with others who understand health challenges
- Have fun creating in a relaxed, positive environment
The “Healing Through Art” class strives to energize and help participants to tap into their creative energy while releasing stress and finding relaxation through the process of art-making. After a brief warm-up, the instructor will guide the class with an artistic prompt or suggestion, sometimes accompanied by a demonstration or online video. Art instructor and cancer survivor, Gillian Orlinsky, will help you get started, and then encourage you to find subject matter and art materials that inspire you and your own creative style. The environment is entirely non-judgmental and play is encouraged!
9:00-9:30am | Welcome and group check-in, warm-up, and prompt |
9:30-11:30am | Paint/draw/write/play! You may stay in the main room with camera on or off or work independently and rejoin at check-in time. Gillian will check-in periodically with you about your work. |
11:30am-12:00pm | Group check-in. Participants will have the "talking stick" for a few minutes each. |
Sponsored by The Cancer Center at Lowell General Hospital and TeamWalk for CancerCare.
Who Should Enroll?
Lowell General Hospital cancer and weight management patients and their caregivers. Beginners are encouraged to sign up, no art experience is required!
Class will be held one Saturday a month, join whenever you are able.
Upcoming Dates
Registration
You do not need much for this class, but a basic kit of art supplies would be helpful. Please find, borrow or purchase your supplies before the class. These are suggested materials only, and can be found using this link: Suggested Art Supplies
Whatever supplies you can find are fine!
This class will be taught in a hybrid format meaning participants can attend in person OR online, whatever is most comfortable!
When registering, please indicate if you will attend in person or online via Zoom.
- If you will be attending in person, the address is: 20 Research Place North Chelmsford, MA 01863. Please enter through the door at the back of the building. We will be in the first room on the right.
- If you will be attending virtually (online via Zoom), don't forget to download the Zoom Meeting Application on your home computer, tablet or phone. Once you register, you will be sent an email with the meeting ID# and password.
Fees
Regular Fee
Free
Employee Fee
Free
Additional Notes
Attendees agree: It can be really nice to do an activity that makes you feel good, helps you relax, and gives you a chance to just be with people who "get it".
Instructor
You may email instructor Gillian Orlinsky at Gillian-o@comcast.net or call 978-866-7088 with any questions about the class.