WEST PLAINS, MO – The West Plains Council on the Arts (WPCA) and Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (OZH) have partnered to bring a themed collection of submissions by area residents to the West Plains Civic Center. WPCA will host the exhibition of works in the Gallery at the Center from May 22, 2023 – May 31, 2023. The Gallery, on the mezzanine, is open to the public during regular Civic Center hours.
Coordinator Janey Hale says, “WPCA is honored to facilitate this art show during Mental Health Awareness Month. Art has long been considered an excellent outlet for one to express themselves.”
The 2023 Mental Health month’s art show theme is “Pieces of Me”. This competition invites area adults (18+ years of age), High School students (9-12th grade), and youth (8th grade and below) to provide their artistic interpretation of what that means. All media types are accepted.
Students from Caulfield, Licking, Mansfield, Mountain Grove, Mountain View- Birch Tree, Winona, and West Plains will be participating in this exhibit.
“There is a positive correlation between art and mental health,” says Richard McGee, former Director at Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center. “Art activity is known to lower stress levels. Creating art for this project is a way to experience this and to shine a light on the importance of mental health.”
A Meet-the-Artists event will be held on Friday, May 26th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Gallery at the Center. The public is invited to attend, meet the artists, view and discuss the pieces on display.
For more information about the exhibit, contact OZH coordinator Lora Moulds at l.moulds@ozhcare.com or WPCA Administrator, Paula Speraneo at info@westplainsarts.org
