2023 marks the 25th year of Snow City Arts! To commemorate this milestone, we are collecting stories from anyone who is—or has been—a part of the Snow City Arts family. You can submit your story here. Leading up to the 2023 Gallery Night on October 13th, we will be sharing stories of Snow City arts students, families, teaching artists, supporters, and friends. Be sure to follow along so you do not miss a blog or social media post!
Malik was first introduced to Snow City Arts (SCA) around the age of 10. At first, SCA Teaching Artists brought different games and puzzles for Malik to play with which helped take his mind off his treatment. Gradually, Malik became more involved, regularly interacting with two Teaching Artists. They would play video games, create art together, and talk.
Malik was in the hospital often, which gave him many opportunities to create with Snow CIty Arts. Years later, Malik fondly remembers dabbling in photography—taking pictures of other patients and the view outside his hotel room—and creating a rap song about spicy doritos.
At the time Malik wanted to pursue a career in politics. His Teaching Artist talked to him about his goals and interests, and then proposed an idea to remake the movie “The Day The Earth Stood Still.” Malik jumped at the chance to play the president. Malik turned his hospital gown around so it looked like a shirt, wore a tie, and addressed the nation, stating, “A flying saucer has been spotted. Please remain calm.”
Years later, Malik remembers the movie remake as a hospital-wide production—with doctors, nurses, and many other young patients participating—and he described it as “the most fun I had ever had in my life.” You can watch the full 30-minute video on Vimeo.
Malik said that during his five years of working with Snow City Arts, he sometimes hoped for a medical crisis while at school so that he could be back in the hospital creating art.
Malik said he wished programs like Snow City Arts were available in all hospitals and for patients of all ages, noting, “It’s depressing when you age out of pediatrics … the care is the same [in pediatrics and adult wards], but pediatrics have services like SCA that are not only a distraction but fun. Adult wings don’t have anything.”
Although Malik no longer desires to be a politician, he does photography in his spare time, which he attributes to his experience with Snow City Arts.
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