BETHESDA, Md.  –   The Pediatric Hematology and Oncology service at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center opened its second annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Month art exhibition Sept. 1, featuring 36 works by 22 artists.

The exhibition is on display through September in the pediatric outpatient area on the fourth floor of Building 19. The artists include patients, family members and staff of the service, and each piece reflects the artist's experience with cancer or a blood disorder.

The work includes photographs, paintings, drawings and mixed-media pieces. Ceiling tiles featured in the exhibition will be installed in the clinic infusion room among many existing tiles already on view there.

Claire Wetterer, a Henry M. Jackson Foundation creative arts therapist working in support of the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology service at Walter Reed, organized the exhibition.

U.S. Army Col. Jeremy Edwards, chief of pediatrics, and Wetterer delivered remarks at the opening.

The service is led by U.S. Army Lt. Col. Lauren Vasta and includes oncologists, hematologists, nurses, administrative staff, a social worker and a pediatric child life specialist.

Nearly all of the pieces were made during art therapy sessions offered on site.

"Art therapy is a tool to allow patients to process their treatment journeys in real time through art and talk therapy in hopes to lighten the emotional load they carry following treatment," Wetterer said. "It is my hope that viewers can see a window into each unique treatment journey and individual."

Anabelle, 16, painted blooming flowers on a clinic ceiling tile for a piece she titled "Growth."

"The flowers gave me a sense of hope that there is beauty in the end of treatment, and how I got to grow into a different person," she wrote in a statement accompanying the work.

"Sunset of Hope," also painted on a clinic ceiling tile, was made by patient Jocelin Ferretiz Romero and family member Vismary Valerio Aquino during chemotherapy.

"Every sunset reminded me that no matter how hard the day was, the sun would always come back up tomorrow, and so would I," the accompanying statement reads. "Painting became my escape."

Art therapy is available to Pediatric Hematology and Oncology patients during both inpatient and outpatient care, with sessions held in infusion bays, at the clinic art table, at bedside on the ward and in the inpatient playroom. Because the patient population is immunocompromised, Wetterer works primarily one-on-one, at times alongside family members.

Marcus, 19, titled his series of photographs "The Blessing of Time."

"The art shown is the representation of innocence and peace turned to a man created by hard work, honesty, and devotion to what is right from wrong," he wrote.