Mental Wellness Through Art at Wailoa Center Show

As part of National Mental Health Month, the Recovery, Resilience and ReCreation program (via selfdiscoverythroughart.org) opened a thought-provoking exhibit May 5 at the Wailoa Arts & Cultural Center in Hilo.

Highlighted is art by local artists “whose work shows how artistic expression is a creative way to bounce back and move on, or recover from life’s difficulties.”

Featured are a variety of media: paintings, sculptures, glass, multi-media, wire sculptures, masks, and mosaics. Each piece tells a poignant story drawing from the program’s focus of recovery, resilience and re-creation.  Signage is posted at each exhibit explaining its meaning and stage of cognitive work.

On the floor of the gallery are representations of a “river of life,” including rapids, boulders and snags. These symbolize (temporary) obstacles in life.

Program co-founders Nidhi Chabora and NJ Moses, along with their board, local artists and therapists, developed the Self-Discovery Through Art program. The program uses the creative process “as a powerful method of helping people move forward in their lives.”

As is evident from the exhibit, they have been successful in guiding participants on a journey into celebrating mental health while expressing themselves through art.

The exhibit runs through May 25 at Wailoa Center, 200 Piopio St. in Hilo. 

The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ample parking; restrooms available.  Restaurants close by.

Wailoa Arts & Cultural Center Exhibit. Photo: D. Moses

Wailoa Arts & Cultural Center Exhibit. Photo: D. Moses

“Humor.” Photo credit: D. Moses

Wailoa Arts & Cultural Center. Photo: Marla Walters

Wire Sculptures. Photo credit: D. Moses

Josh Akana. Photo credit: Marla Walters

Debra K. Photo credit: Marla Walters