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March 22, 2010

Contest features local artist

Holly Werlein is semifinalist in National Kidney Foundation's competition

By Carol South

TRAVERSE CITY -- Peace. Love. Happiness.

Holly Werlein and her two sisters, Brooke and Rachel, older and younger respectively, are an inspiring team. When Holly was 21 and fighting for her life before and after a liver transplant, her sisters were by her side. When the former high school athletic star began competing again, this time at Transplant Games, they were Holly's biggest supporters.

The trio of Peace, Love and Happiness, as they dubbed themselves, sparked Holly to make a heart-shaped logo reflecting their love and solidarity. The sisters printed up and proudly wore T-shirts bearing this image, wowing other attendees at Transplant Games Holly attended.

"I love art, it's my passion," said Werlein, now 25, a Traverse City resident who has studied at Northwestern Michigan College and gives special credit to instructor Tom Auch for inspiration.

Werlein photographed a gold medal she won at a Transplant Games event placed in the midst of the sisters' logo. The image launched her into another competition, this time as a semifinalist in a nationwide art contest. The National Kidney Foundation is holding the contest in honor of its 60th anniversary.

"I never expected this, I was so excited," Werlein said of being selected. "The Transplant Games were such an amazing experience, this (photograph) shows that I received such a major gift and that there's normal life after a transplant."

The art contest drew 100 entries from 25 states plus a few international submissions. Categories for entries were digital art, hand drawn art and photography. In addition to organ transplant recipients, kidney patients, family members and healthcare professionals were eligible to enter.

Judges narrowed the field to 18 semifinalists. Internet voting will select the winner, who will be honored next month during an annual National Kidney Foundation meeting in Orlando. (Votes will be accepted through March 31 at www.kidney.org/60, select Art Contest and follow the directions.)

Like Werlein, many transplant recipients channel their strong emotions into art. The inaugural contest provided a formal outlet to an ongoing, spontaneous influx of talent to the foundation, which often receives poems, stories or songs.

"We know that people who have had dialysis or who have received a transplant or who are donors are very emotional, understandably," said Larry Geiger, vice president for marketing and communications at the National Kidney Foundation. "They like to express themselves in many ways."

"It's been fun," he said of the contest. "We've gotten all sorts of entries and contact with all sorts of people."

The National Kidney Foundation also hosts the U.S. Transplant Games, held every other summer. Werlein is just beginning to train for the 2010 games, which are scheduled for this summer in Madison, Wis.

Promoting awareness of organ donations is Werlein's other passion in life, forming a foundation for her artistic and athletic endeavors. A personal chef and sparkling optimist, she relishes sharing her story with individuals and groups, recently speaking to a driver's education class.

I'm trying my hardest to get the word out," Werlein said.

To contact Holly Werlein, e-mail hwerlein@hotmail.com.

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