STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
How would you paint or draw gratitude?
That’s what you’re being asked to do for NAMI-WRV’s fourth annual Journey to Wellness Art Show.
This year’s art exhibit and sale will be held Thursday, March 5, at Ketchum Innovation Center. And this year’s theme is “Gratitude,” a tool often used in NAMI-WRV’s four support groups.
David Rau, one of the event’s organizers, knows about gratitude. He lost the ability to paint with his right hand a few years ago and, after some trials and tribulations, he was able to teach himself to paint with his left hand.
“I practice gratitude every time I get the chance to paint,” he said.
Co-organizer Kirk Anderson says he’s filled with gratitude that the Wood River Valley has resources to cultivate mental health. Marie Stewart says she is grateful for a lifetime of being able to pursue her creative passions, as does Poo Wright-Pulliam.
“I am grateful for the natural world around me and that I have the ability to put brush to paper, as well as teach about birds and wildlife, sharing my passion with others,” said Poo Wright-Pulliam, who has been among the organizers of the event since its inception.
Those who would like to submit a painting or sculpture depicting their vision of gratitude may drop submissions off at the NAMI office at Hailey’s Community Campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 17 through 28. Submissions may also be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at the Ketchum Innovation Center, 180 6th St. West, in Ketchum.
The art will be displayed on the NAMI website March 2 through 5 and then featured at the Journey to Wellness Art Show at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5.
Money raised from the event will go to further the education, support and advocacy of NAMI-WRV, which is trying to offer tools for dealing with mental illness. As many as one in five adults and one in four children experience mental health challenges at some point during their lives. Suicide is the second leading cause of death today for those ages 10 through 34, and that number has increased by 31 percent since 2001.
Questions? Call NAMI at 208-481-0686 or email info@namiwrv.org. Or, visit www.namiwrv.org/art.