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First-Grade Quilt Art Project "Hands-On Sick babies" Unveiled At Sierra Heights Elementary

Local artist, Doug Kyes, worked with first graders at Sierra Heights Elementary to develop a quilt project for Pediatric Interim Care Center in Kent. PICC nurtures and nurses babies born addicted to drugs.

A few months ago, Patch told you about local artist and volunteer extra-ordinaire, who regularly works with children at on art projects. We gave you a tease about the quilt that he was developing for (PICC) , in Kent with the first graders at the school. It was their last project for the year and they did a formal unveiling of the quilt this week.

Kyes, the first-grade class, their teacher Kristen Brenneman, quilter Mary Jane Price, grandparents, and PICC representative Pam Huffman were on hand for the unveiling.

For the quilt project, the first graders were told they were developing something for sick babies—and the quilt was dubbed “Hands – On Sick Babies”

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Each child sketched his or her handprint, which Kyes painted, and then Price (a long-time volunteer with the mentor program), volunteered her time and talent to turn the quilt into a beautiful piece of art that is now hanging at the Center. The babies, who are nursed and nurtured at the center, are all born addicted to drugs of some sort.

Barbara Drennen, Executive Director of the Center, wasn’t able to attend the unveiling because she was busy getting three babies admitted to the facility, but later said, “I would have loved being there. It is an absolutely beautiful quilt and I would have loved seeing the children’s faces at the ceremony.”

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The kids' teacher, Brenneman said, “Doug is an amazing guy,” and considers herself privileged to have worked with Kyes on many art projects.

Principal Nanci Davis proudly displayed many of the art projects displayed throughout the school, including the fourth installment of the 3-Dimensional Art project completed in Miss Unti’s class.

As the quilt was displayed, the kids jumped up and down with delight and clamored to see how their own handprints turned out on the quilt. “There I am! There I am!” one student said. To the children, Kyes is practically a pied piper and they love following him around the school.

The students who participated in the art project were: Cohen Brownell, Hailey Chadrow, Lauren Duncan, Vanessa Fuentes, Makena Kjellsen, Michael Moore, Steven Moore, Dylan Peterson, Carlos Reyes-Torres, Rachel Sokoloski, Alexander Valencia, Will Wollpert, and Sayri Vazquez.

Allied Arts of Renton donated $50 for project materials, Alki Tully’s donated coffee to the event, and Kyes and his wife treated the kids to juice and cookies for their big day.

“It is so heartwarming to have children do something for the babies,” Drennen said.

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