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As a way to process tragedy through artmaking, Patrick Callicotte’s fourth-grade students at Chapman Elementary created worry dolls for Ohio State students,  faculty and staff. Worry dolls, originating in Guatemala, are small handmade dolls made of wires, strings and fabrics.

On the morning of Nov. 29, after an attack on the Ohio State campus, the usual sounds in Patrick Callicotte’s (BA, 2011; MA, 2016; art education) art classroom ­— of lively music, paintbrushes splattering inside water cups and children laughing — were replaced with fragile voices asking concerned questions. One student asked, “Can art be medicine?”

Callicotte’s fourth-grade students at Chapman Elementary in Dublin had been studying the importance and power of children’s voices and ideas. So the class decided to create worry dolls to help ease the uncertainties of Ohio State students, faculty and staff. 

“Throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies at Ohio State, I was inspired to be an agent of change and use art education as a medium for social progress. This project helped me realize that sometimes the most powerful impact I can make is by stepping back and simply allowing the time and resources for the next generation to have their voices heard.”

Callicotte’s students twirled yarn and cut felt ­­— enough for hundreds of small colorful worry dolls. Word got out on campus, and requests to the class poured in. More than 120 worry dolls with notes like, “I hope all your worries go away,” “I bet you need a smile right now!” and “Made with love,” were sent to the Ohio State community.