UCI Health burn patients turn scars into works of art
Burn survivor and notable artist Grace Flott led healing workshop
Orange, Calif. — On Saturday, May 2, six burn survivors and their loved ones attended an art workshop organized by the UCI Health Regional Burn Center to aid their healing journey through art. While scars are outwardly facing, they might not tell the full story of the individual and how their injury is perceived by themselves and others.
Led by Seattle-based burn survivor and artist Grace Flott, participants learned about her own healing journey and how she embraced her scars through art.
“As an artist and burn survivor myself, I know the power of art to connect us with ourselves and with community,” she said. “Making art of any kind requires a leap of faith because we are making something that never existed before.”
According to Flott, creative risk-taking provides burn survivors with the opportunity to build their confidence in a safe environment.
“Making prints from our burn scars allows us to see our bodies in a totally new context,” says Flott. “Printed on paper, our scars become more than just symbols of pain and trauma; they turn into beautiful shapes, textures, and colors filled meaning and purpose.”
Attendees with burn scars on the chin, thighs and abdomen created scar prints by rolling ink directly onto their skin and then printing the inked skin onto paper. The result: a unique print that can help unlock stigma associated with their injuries.
“The workshop demonstrates the Regional Burn Center’s commitment to caring for our patients holistically through discharge and beyond,” said Dr. Syed Saquib, a trauma surgeon and medical director of the UCI Health Regional Burn Center.
“Oftentimes, aftercare is much more valuable for burn survivors. Survivor camps and other events create a strong survivor community allowing members to embrace their story in a supportive environment.”
UCI Health –– Orange is home to the county’s only regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association for adult and pediatric care.
Each year, the team treats more than 600 patients — one-third of them children — for mild, severe and life-threatening burns. This includes:
- Scald burns
- Friction burns and road rash
- Thermal burns
- Chemical burns
- Electrical burns and related injuries
In addition to medical care, the UCI Health Regional Burn Center also addresses the emotional needs of patients and families recovering from injury. They have access to a burn psychologist, monthly burn survivor support groups, annual gatherings and events to build community and more.
Learn more about the UCI Health Regional Burn Center.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,461-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Health — Orange, its flagship hospital, the UCI Health — Irvine acute care hospital and medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Health — Orange provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).