The West Plains Council on the Arts and Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (BHC) have again partnered to bring a themed collection of submissions by area residents to the West Plains Civic Center. WPCA will host the exhibition of works from Monday through May 17 in the gallery on the mezzanine in the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St. The gallery is open to the public during regular civic center hours.
“WPCA is honored to facilitate this art show during Mental Health Month,” say organizers. “Art has long been considered an excellent outlet for one to express themselves.”
The 2024 Mental Health month’s art show theme is “Note to Self.” The competition invited area adults, high school students, middle school students, and elementary students in two age groups — second through fourth grades and first grade and below — to provide their artistic interpretation of what that means. All media types were accepted.
Submissions from Caulfield, Licking, Mansfield, Mtn. Grove, Mtn. View- Birch Tree, Winona and West Plains will be shown in this exhibit.
“Art can provide a creative outlet for expressing and processing emotions, particularly those that are difficult to put into words,” says Lora Moulds, community support specialist and art show coordinator at BHC. “This can help individuals to release feelings of stress, anxiety and depression, and promote a sense of emotional release and catharsis.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. May 17 in the gallery at the civic center. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Moulds at l.moulds@ozhcare.com or WPCA at info@westplainsarts.org.
