Elizabeth Stone has a special place in her heart for children. Not only does she sell artwork created by children’s book illustrators, but she has also been instrumental in selling artwork to some of the major children’s hospitals over the past year.
So it was no surprise that when she celebrated the opening of her new gallery, she also did something to help three Inova hospitals. In conjunction with the Grand Opening of Elizabeth Stone Gallery last Thursday, she held a reception for The Art for Children’s Healing Initiative. A portion of the proceeds from sales that evening benefited Inova Alexandria Hospital, Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children and Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. On hand were many representatives of those hospitals, including Che Parker, Beverley Alexander, Kathy Hochman, Joan Wabschall and Piper Dankworth.
Special guest was Wendell Minor, illustrator and author of dozens of children’s books. He has also illustrated more than 2,000 adult fiction book covers, including “Truman,” by David McCullough, “The Prince of Tides,” by Pat Conroy and “Alaska” by James Michener.
Stone introduced Minor, saying that he was internationally known and that her adult son, Rick Stone, is a big collector of his works. Stone has represented the sale of Minor’s illustrations for several years and when he found out that she was thinking of moving to the Washington, D.C. area, he said, “I think it’s the smartest thing you could ever do, moving to Washington.”
And so, here she is, opening a gallery in Old Town, Alexandria, just a short time after moving to the area. Earlier this year, she joined forces with Tom Shaw to form the Art for Children’s Healing initiative. This collaborative has over a hundred recognized children’s book illustrators represented in its library collection of art. The placement of their familiar images and stories at major medical centers, children’s hospitals, clinics, and pediatric practices provides a healing environment that is calming to children at a time that can be very stressful for them.
MINOR SPOKE BRIEFLY, saying that the greatest thing about what he does is that, “I don’t have to grow up.”
Minor said that when he creates his books he draws the pictures first and then he writes the words. He has been writing and illustrating for 35 years.
He embraces the idea of placing artwork in children’s hospitals and related the story of his trip to the hospital to have his tonsils removed at the age of 8.
“I was scared to death,” he said. “I would have loved to have art on the walls. These images [from children’s books] are frozen in our minds. They live with us our entire lives and are healing and soothing.
“Those who are committed to art will be committed to putting art on the walls in the hospitals,” Minor said. “It’s a subtle thing but with the passage of time you will see miracles happen.”
Minor signed copies of his books, including his new one, “Reaching for the Moon” which he illustrated for Buzz Aldrin. He has 10 new books under contract and plans to keep writing as long as he can.
About a hundred guests enjoyed refreshments as they visited with Minor and looked at the extensive collection of children’s books and artwork.