MHAM’s ‘Journey of the Mind’ February Art Exhibit

Mental Health Awareness of Michiana (MHAM) Announces Inaugural Art Exhibit:

‘Journey of the Mind through Artistic Visual Expression’

Mental Health Awareness of Michiana (MHAM) is excited to present its first-ever art exhibit, ‘Journey of the Mind through Artistic Visual Expression,’ in partnership with the downtown Elkhart Public Library located at 300 Second Street, running Feb. 22-March 15. This inspiring showcase brings together artists of all ages and skill levels from Michiana to explore themes of mental health, mental struggles, and recovery through art.

Creative expression has the power to heal. For many, the creation of art is a meaningful way to promote self-discovery, self-expression, and the cultivation of joy. Journey of the Mind is a place for those who have found healing through art, specifically as it relates to mental health.

Our hearts are full of gratitude from our opening night for Journey of the Mind on Saturday, Feb. 22nd. Artists and art appreciators alike filled the evening with conversation and camaraderie, all in the spirit of mental health journeys. We thank the Michiana community for showing up and speaking freely, because this representation matters.

This meaningful event is presented in partnership with the Elkhart Public Library, located downtown at 300 S. Second Street. Join us as we explore the intersection of art and mental health, raising awareness and fostering connection throughout our Michiana community.

This event is graciously sponsored by Elkhart Community Foundation and Indiana Trust Wealth Management.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHTS

We’d like to welcome you to the artists who make this exhibit a meaningful part of the mental health discussion in Michiana.

 

 

Mary Pence Bagiackas

In my youth, the 2 1/2 years I spent in Asia opened my eyes to how much beautiful colors and shapes meant to me. I realized that I was meant to be an artist. Art to me is a game of chess. I’m swimming now.

• Acrylic on canvas, Find Your Place

 

Pamela Blair

Pam Blair is a multidisciplinary creator whose work bridges the worlds of art, sound, and language.

• Acrylic on canvas, Corners

 

 

SMB Painting Creations

Stephanie Brown is a self-taught, multi-medium artist from Goshen. Her work, rooted in healing and self-expression, reflects her journey as a neurodivergent domestic violence survivor and mother.

• Acrylic on wrapped canvas, Thirsty Bumble
• Acrylic on canvas board, Coercive Control Self Portrait
• Acrylic on wrapped canvas, Disassociation is Survival

 

Dorothy Carter

As a mixed-media artist, I find inspiration in the beauty of transformation. My work often incorporates upcycled and repurposed materials, breathing new life into forgotten objects and telling new stories through art. Mostly self-taught, I have explored a variety of techniques and mediums, allowing creativity to guide my process. Participating in several shows throughout the Michiana area has given me the opportunity to share my vision and connect with others who appreciate the unexpected in art. One of my greatest joys is creating pen and ink, watercolor greeting cards-small yet meaningful pieces that capture moments of whimsy, nostalgia, and personal expression. Art, for me, is an ever-evolving journey, and I am always exploring new ways to bring imagination and sustainability together in my work.

• Watercolor, pen & ink, The Colors of Depression
• Digital production, It Takes a Village
• Digital production, Help and Healing

 

Elyse Chudzynski

Artmaking has always been a place for me to connect with my self. It’s a place where I can lose time and find meaning. This joyful endeavor became more of a necessity in the fall of 2016 as I found myself at a crossroads, both personal and professional. When my world became too difficult to sort through or make sense of, I turned to something small and simple I could control. Line. Shape. Color. The Elements of Design that I taught in my art classroom became my meditative retreat. Then, as I sought help, developed tools, and found my power, I took my art along with me. When I made the decision to leave teaching and become a mental health counselor it was without question that artmaking would be a part of my practice. Today, art continues to be an invaluable tool for myself, but it’s also one I offer my clients as they find their own meaning. Elyse Chudzynski, LMHCA is a therapist at Psych Pointe and a volunteer with MHAM.

• Acrylic on paper, Keep it Simple

 

Mateo Galdamez

I’m Mateo Galdamez, a fine arts student at Indiana University South Bend studying graphic design and minoring in drawing and painting. As a graphic design student, I use software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign to make my digital work. I have fun creating digital projects both in and out of classes. However, just because I enjoy the world of digital art, doesn’t mean my appreciation for other mediums like pencil and paint has not been forgotten. My niche is mainly focused on depicting dinosaurs. Growing up, I watched various movies and shows with dinosaurs as I found myself immersed in how these animals were part of reality, yet little is known about them. In high school, I would do sketches of various prehistoric animals based on books in the school liberty to express my love for prehistory. That’s why I focus my art on these creatures as they spark a lot of creativity. I wouldn’t be here if I kept reminding myself of simpler times and took it as both a stress reliever and a lens for my future. For me, my childhood was about dinosaurs, my life right now is about art, which brings happiness to me.

• Adobe Photoshop, Dromeo Struggle

 

Megan Gettinger

Megan Gettinger is a wife and mother of 5 who creates art in her home in South Bend, Indiana. She uses many different mediums including watercolor, acrylic, paint marker, colored pencil, and crayon. Much of her art incorporates elements from the natural world, such as plants and florals. Most recently she has created abstract pieces that reflect on various themes including the beauty of the planets and the experience of love and belonging. Megan loves exploring how art can be an outward reflection of the various emotional states of being. For Megan, art means a space where she can find freedom, joy, peace, and wonder amidst the routines of day to day life. Megan believes that art is an invitation to both the artist and the viewer to slow down and engage their imaginations, something that is very needed in our increasingly fast paced world.

• Acrylic + crayon on watercolor paper, Belovedness

 

Jess H*

I’m a self taught artist with a significant mental health history. I began with fingerpaints 2 years ago to help me express confusing emotions. Creating art helped me understand them and heal myself.

• Mixed media acrylic on canvas panel, 988
• Mixed media acrylic with lights, The Butterfly Effect
• Mixed media acrylic, Too Much Love to Hate

 

mlheck

Creating unity & harmony from random found objects is a means to process career, family, health, and stress e.g. injuries, surgeries, divorce or other grief, inviting others to reflect on their own.

• Found objects, FOCUS! Big Picture v. Little Picture, Don’t Think Aloud, Control the Impulse to Speak, and the ADD Dance of Divergent and Convergent Thinking
• Found objects, Sins of our Ancestors: The Instability of Generational Trauma
• Found objects, Mental Gymnastics, Working Out, and Power Lifting: Get Out of Your Head

 

Leigha Jones

Leigha Jones is a 23-year-old recent graduate from Indiana University South Bend with majors in Graphic Design and Painting/Drawing. She enjoys playing with color and lighting in her art, as well as finding new media to experiment with. Her goal with her work is to express deep concepts in a bold way. Leigha plans to get her MFA and teach on a collegiate level. In the meantime, she is exploring the local art scene and finding her footing as an artist in the 21st century.

• Digital collage, Embryonic
• Digital collage, Two Left Wings
• Digital collage, Perfectionism

 

Beth Kane

My art? It comes from my heart. Most of my work is connected to seeing, feeling, experiencing. Bits of me and bits of others may be uncovered on the canvas. My inspiration many times, comes from working in human services with victims and survivors of crime, as well as those who battle addictions and mental illness; sometimes pain and struggle, sometimes pretty and sometimes gritty, sometimes success and empowerment, sometimes the relationship with self and others, sometimes dreams & wishes, sometimes fantasy. I use art in my work with survivors and know the healing power of expressive therapies. I do not strive for perfection or photo-realism because in this life, we are all imperfect. Our view of the world is uniquely ours and ours alone. If I had to pick a style, I would say contemporary realism, a little fractured, a little cubist. I have recently added plein air to my list and you may see me out in a field with my easel, enjoying the beauty of nature. I find beauty and value in many styles. I can plan the painting, the style, the method and destination, but often find my brush pulls me in a new and different direction. It’s possible you will find a bit of you in my art. That is the joy and wonder of creating! I work with a variety of mediums including watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, silverpoint, flame art, graphite, charcoal and ink.

• Acrylic on canvas, Look Through Any Window

 

Elizabeth Kuntz

I’m an intuitive Fine Artist and Instructor of Tai Chi and Qigong. Art has been the guiding light on my path of healing and self discovery, helping me to find resilience of spirit and peace within my mind and heart. www.kuntzstudio.com

• Pastel on paper, Finding Harmony
• Pastel on paper, Learning
• Pastel on paper, Wilderness of the Heart

 

Kathleen Petitjean

My journey has been one of spiritual, mental and physical healing and my artworks are witness to this journey!

• Charcoal on paper, Jesus and the Lamb
• Reclaimed stoneware clay with iron oxide wash, Forgetting What is Behind
• Pen and ink, Fruits of the Spirit

 

Jennifer Sweazy

I wanted to be an art teacher since the 4th grade. My art teacher, Ms. Jirreh, was a pivotal figure in my development. She used art as a launching point for many interactions that helped me grow during some of my most formative years. I taught art for 17 years and saw the power that the creative process can have on people, especially children. I stepped out of the classroom and into my current role on the Emotional Well-Being team at Boys & Girls Club. By exploring a variety of ways in delivering social and emotional learning programming to our kids, one thing that stayed constant was the integration of art. I am now pursuing my masters in Clinical Mental Health in hopes of bridging my two worlds.

• Acrylic on canvas, Straighten Your Crown

 

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