Mental Health Art Exhibit: “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” – Henry Ward Beecher

Wed, September 17 | 9:00 AM EDT– 5:00 PM EDT

Topic: Art | Knowledge Level: All levels

Shelly Kepford, MCA, LSW and Daniel Huesman, MSW, LISW, LICDC, IMHP

Art can be seen as an outward expression of our inner contemplation of the world. It provides a means to communicate what words alone often cannot. This creative outlet gives us space to express ourselves when words fail. Through art, our perceptions, interpretations, and relationships become shared experiences, fostering connection and reconnection with others. This connection allows for growth and helps us make sense of the tragedies, traumas, and trials we face. Ultimately, art can be a source of healing—both for ourselves and for others in need. This exhibit will highlight the work of artists who are also mental health consumers. These artists explore the power of creative expression to healing. Individuals with mental illness are marginalized in communities based on stigma and stereotypes firmly held in U.S. culture. Visual art is a way for the marginalized to take back their narrative and create a new story as an artist. These are stories of healing, hope, persistence, and perseverance in a space that allows such growth and transformation. Individual stories are presented as photographs along with captions to express the intention and view of each piece. Please take this journey with us and enjoy the power of expressing what lies within as we grow through our losses and into our gains.

Presentation Objectives

• Share the self-expression of individuals seeking to better understand their own views
• Acknowledge the separation that is often found in society, fueled by stigma and disconnection, that can be overcome through these acts of self-expression
• Show how individuals uniquely see the world so that we might better understand the ways we can reconnect