When the earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, earlier this year, it shook more than just the ground and buildings. It shook entire lives, changing them forever. For this reason, some are taking their frustrations, stress and anxiety to the blank canvas.

Thanks to the media, we have heard countless stories of what happened during those terrifying 35 seconds. We have read the experiences of workers, family men, and pottery makers. But what about the children?

From June 17 to October 17, The Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center shall feature an exhibition of the nearly 100 paintings and drawings created by the young victims of the Haiti quake. Entitled The Healing Power of Art: Works of Art by Haitian Children after the Earthquake, the artworks are the output of a project started by First Lady Elisabeth D. Preval in coalition with Haitian artists including Philippe Dodard and a motley team of psychologists, educators and politicians, to create a safe outlet for the children to express themselves after the quake.

Aside from the artworks, the exhibition includes an 18-minute film entitled Thirty Five Long Seconds: Haiti’s Deadly Earthquake and two short videos, one about Plas Timoun (The Children’s Place), a place that served as a creative haven for the children, and another about a visit to Haiti by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden.

Although most works created immediately following the disaster were dark in both the colors and imagery used, they soon became hopeful, depicting scenes of a better future. This serves as a testament to the resilience of children and to the healing power of art.

For many, art is not simply the mixing and splashing of colors onto a piece of canvas. Rather, it is the most open and creative way they can express their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It can be a form of healing and a means to engender hope.