Looking Forward:

Healing through Art

The purpose of this exhibition is to showcase the efficacy of art in supporting mental wellness, the different ways artists use creation to maintain their mental health, and highlighting our brothers, sisters, neighbors, fellow humans who need resources they can’t always access. Art therapy has been studied since at least the 1940’s, with British and American mental facilities noting the power of art to free the mind from whatever physical conditions they are currently undergoing. The act of creation is a way to regain control, to restore and maintain mental balance, the primordial outlet. From cavemen to children, everyone has made art. This exhibition aims to celebrate this feat, that this base aspect of humanity can also be harnessed as a tool, meditative device, and as a way to express emotions. With how difficult the world has become, and how challenging accessing mental health resources can be, playing an instrument poorly, drawing outside the lines, and writing the roughest first draft of that poem is vital to staying sane. Creating art, while not on its own a replacement for therapy or treatment, is as important as cooking or breathing, and just as important for one’s mental health. We urge you to not only enjoy our show, but to go forth and create for yourself!