The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center will host its fourth annual Art Show and Auction October 23-25. For the first time, the art show and auction will be held online.
The art show raises funds for the Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center, the only student-run, pro bono occupational therapy clinic in the Mid-South. The clinic opened in 2016 and provides occupational therapy services at no cost to children of families that are uninsured or underinsured.
“This art show is a great way to support the clinic and the children who receive services,” said Anne Zachry, PhD, OTR/L, chair and associate professor in the UTHSC Department of Occupational Therapy. “Every dollar we raise from the art show goes directly to providing occupational therapy services for children who otherwise would not receive those services.”
Students in the Occupational Therapy program in the UTHSC College of Health Professions are able to gain hands-on experiences in occupational therapy at the clinic. Under the supervision of OT professionals, UTHSC students assist with screenings, evaluations, and the treatment of patients. These are available in person or through telehealth appointments. Clinic appointments are available on Tuesday afternoons from 3-6 p.m.
Named for Rachel Kay Stevens, an OT student who died shortly after beginning her OT program at UTHSC, the art show honors her memory and her passion for pediatric occupational therapy and the arts.
The goal for the art show is to raise $2,000.
Participants can access the more than 50 pieces of art available for auction through the RKS Art Show and Auction website.
The artwork was created and donated by children throughout the city who receive OT services from clinics, including the Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, the Madonna Learning Center, and other private therapy clinics. Professional artists N.J. Woods and Whitney Winkler have also donated pieces which will be up for auction.
Participants must create an account in order to place a bid. The auction begins October 23 at 8 a.m. CDT and ends October 25 at 5 p.m. CDT. Participants may bid on several pieces of art, multiple times, while the auction is open. All winners will be notified and will have the option to pick up their art at a drive-thru on campus or have it mailed for an extra fee. Participants can also choose to make donations on the RKS Art Show and Auction website.
The UTHSC OT Department is currently accepting artwork donations for the show from local artists through October 16. Artists can contact Dr. Zachry at 901.448.2228 to make a donation.