Mandala Making with Medical Tools-  (co led with KU breast surgeon, Dr. Christa Balanoff )

For patients, caregivers, families or anyone dealing with the trauma related to health, wellness, and healing - InterUrban ArtHouse will be offering a variety of art therapy meetups that will help you through your difficult time! 

Using a surgical pen (often used in marking a person’s body for radiation or prepping for surgery), participants will create decorative mandalas (circular patterned art), and simple designs on their hands or arms. The surgical pen offers participants an opportunity to regain boundaries often lost in the cancer treatment process, as skin is often “marked up” preceding surgery or radiation treatment. This session will be co led with KU’s breast surgeon, Dr. Christa Balanoff, further enhancing the transformative experience of art making.  This session is for: people in cancer treatment, caregivers, family members, friends etc.   

Although an underlying theme of these sessions is breast cancer, all are welcome regardless of the type of illness you or your loved one might be experiencing.

Sessions are led by Licensed Art Therapist, Sherri Jacobs, MS, LMFT, MA, ATR. 

Sherri received her master's degree in marriage and family therapy from Friends University in Kansas City, and her master's degree in art therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has worked for many years as an art therapist with children, adolescents, families, elderly and people with dementia.

Sherri is founder of Heartland Art Therapy, a trained mediator, approved by the Kansas Supreme Court, past president of the Kansas Art Therapy Association, TEDxOverlandPark founder, and has held numerous civic leadership positions. Sherri is married and raising four children in the Kansas City area.