Artwork courtesy of NAMI-WRV
By DANA DUGAN
For the third year, the National Alliance for Mental Illness in the Wood River Valley (NAMI-WRV) will hold its Journey to Wellness art show. Proceeds will benefit NAMI-WRV’s stigma-free initiatives, support groups and services. The annual event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, March 11, at the Ketchum Innovation Center located at 180 Sixth Street West in Ketchum.
This year, participating artists were encouraged to create a work in a medium of their choice that explores or conveys ideas about mental illness, health, and wellness through the 2019 theme of “Birds,” in honor of NAMI-WRV’s teen support groups named the Bluebirds.
According NAMI-WRV president Daniel Hansen, the group’s theme suggests “sometimes when you’re feeling down and blue, remember you will fly.”
To that end, participating artists used concepts of mental illness, health, and wellness in their work in the spirit of birds, rebirth, and overcoming obstacles in solidarity, and support for the teen groups.
“The way our talented and compassionate community comes together for a cause never ceases to amaze,” says NAMI-WRV president Daniel Hansen. “This is a great event to display the amazing talent in our community, connect with others, enjoy great food and drink, and raise funds and awareness for a vital cause. For inspiration, themed works are encouraged but all submissions are welcome.”
In addition to the artist submissions, people also created and built birdhouses to be displayed and auctioned in support of the cause.
“This year’s theme is birds, or bluebirds, to go off our edu-tainment community theme of bluebirds,” said Christina Cernansky, NAMI-WRV’s executive director. “What I love about this art show is that the art is from people who want to donate work for a good cause. These are students and senior citizens, well-known and lesser-known artists, and amateur artists.”
Cernansky said the message of NAMI’s outreach is that it’s “okay to not be okay.” She said that we all have ups and downs, and that we have to remember we will get through difficult times. Cernansky went on to say that in this age of instant gratification, social media teaches us that if you’re feeling down and blue, you need to immediately be picked up, but that’s really not how life works.
The first year the auction was held at the Gail Severn Gallery, which was a “great venue, but we outgrew it,” Cernansky said. “Last year was at the old KIC. This year, we partnered again with the KIC because they’re partners with us in so many ways.”
Birdhouse or artwork donations may still be submitted at the NAMI-WRV office at the Community Campus in Hailey, through Thursday, March 7. Submissions can also be delivered to the KIC during work hours on Friday, March 8.
For art show information, contact the NAMI office at (208) 481-0686 or info@namiwrv.org, or visit nami-wrv.com/art. For more information on the Bluebirds, visit namiwrv.org/bluebirds.