From Executive Director Lisa Kelly
Innovation and Purposeful Engagement are key values of Mental Health Awareness of Michiana (MHAM). In 2025, these values were reflected as we launched the inaugural “Journey of the Mind Through Visual Artistic Expression” exhibit. This collection of work transcended mere aesthetics and dove into the very core of human experience.
This exhibit is more than a display of talent; it is a tapestry woven from the threads of personal struggle, resilience, and ultimate healing. Each painting, sculpture, and photograph represents a deeply personal journey—a testament to the incredible, and often overlooked, power of art to heal.
The Unspoken Dialogue
In our increasingly complex and fast-paced world, the pressures on our mental and emotional well-being are greater than ever. Sometimes, words fail us. How do you articulate the crushing weight of anxiety, the isolating fog of depression, or the slow, painstaking process of recovery?
This is where visual artistic expression steps in, offering a universal language that bypasses the limitations of speech. The artists participating in this exhibit—many of whom have used the creative process as a direct tool for mental and emotional wellness—have found in their work a vital form of self-discovery and self-expression.
From a 2025 participant, “Thank you for all the kindness, understanding, and a platform to share my work AND my art therapy/ healing journey with other amazing experiences to relate and connect to. And the opportunity to connect to mental health advocates. This has been one of the best open calling posts I was sent. I was feeling alone, and I needed this.”
The Executive Director’s Perspective: A Belief in Transformation
At MHAM, our initiatives reflect the belief that there are multiple pathways to a healthy, thriving community. The pieces submitted and the artists’ healing journeys from our inaugural exhibit are profound reminders that the true value of art lies not just in what it creates, but in what it enables.
- Enabling Self-Discovery: Through the careful choice of color, line, and form, artists give shape to abstract feelings and find clarity in chaos.
- Enabling Connection: By sharing these vulnerable, honest expressions, the artists break down the walls of stigma that surround mental health. Their courage allows viewers to see their own struggles reflected, fostering empathy and reducing isolation.
- Enabling Hope: The final works are not just records of struggle; they are markers of progress. They represent a therapeutic act—a process that channels pain into something beautiful, demonstrating that healing is possible.
Whether you submit work or attend the exhibit in 2026, I encourage you to pause, to look closely, and to allow the artwork to speak to your own mind and heart.
Beyond the Gallery Walls
Thank you to the talented artists for sharing their journeys and thank you to our community for supporting a space where vulnerability is celebrated, and healing is made visible.
If you’re moved to support opportunities like this, consider contributing towards our End of Year campaign, which goes to programs like this as well as educational events, pro bono counseling, and working to raise mental health literacy and access throughout Michiana. Every ounce of support improves the community overall, and is deeply appreciated!
Sincerely,
Lisa Kelly
Executive Director, Mental Health Awareness of Michiana (MHAM)
Journey of the Mind through Visual Artistic Expression
Submission Window: December 1, 2025 – January 16, 2026
