STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Check out art celebrating mental health and wellness at NAMI-WRV’s third annual Journey to Wellness Art Show on Monday.
The free show will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ketchum innovation Center, 180 6th St. West, in Ketchum.
Local artists have submitted works that will be auctioned off to benefit mental health resources in the community. This year’s theme was “Birds” in honor of NAMI-WRV’s ground-breaking teen support group named the Bluebirds.
The theme is designed to evoke the idea that “Sometimes when you’re feeling down and blue, remember you will fly.”
The show is a great way to display the community’s amazing talent while bringing people together to connect with others, enjoy food and drink, and raise funds and awareness for a vital cause, said NAMI-WRV president Daniel Hansen.
Included in the submissions are birdhouses built and designed by Wood River Valley architects, interior designers, landscape architects, engineers and contractors.
Fifty-six students from Betty Ervin’s Studio Art Class at Wood River High School also painted birdhouses that will be on display. Each student researched a famous artist with a mental illness and painted one of that artist’s works on their birdhouse.
In addition, students with WOW: The Generosity Project are donating $1,400 to the National Alliance for Mental Illness-Wood River Valley to support the valley’s wellness education programs and its five free support groups.
Morley Nelson, who founded the nonprofit designed to teach youth about generosity, said students were happy to help NAMI-WRV provide essential services that benefit the valley.
“NAMI-WRV has grown tremendously over the past five years. We are glad we can be part of this important initiative,” he said.
This is the first time NAMI-WRV has collaborated with the WRHS art department and with WOW.
“We are so thankful for the partnerships in the community that raise awareness,” said Christina Cernansky, executive director of NAMI-WRV. “We will use these funds to continue our Stigma Free campaign to raise public awareness about the mental health issues that are within our community. “
The National Alliance for Mental illness is the largest grassroots organization for individuals and families affected by mental illness. To learn about its free education programs and support groups, visit www.namiwrv.org.