Fighting the Stigma Around Mental Health |
|
Photo by Sandra Okot-Kotber. |
|
Dear Friends,
Each of us are experiencing many unique and varied challenges of the long pandemic year we’ve endured. At ArtWorks, we have been extremely concerned about our youth community and how extended isolation has impacted their wellbeing. According to new research by Interact for Health, almost half of young people (ages 18-29) in Cincinnati area say their mental health has gotten worse since the start of the pandemic.
I believe these numbers, and I am troubled by them. I’m sure everyone who reads this know youth who are impacted. This report hits close to home for ArtWorks, as an anchor for youth in troubling times. We create a space for positive relationship building through social and emotional support. It is reassuring to know that Youth Apprentices can feel safe enough to share their mental health struggles with our team and reach out for help. We have been able to work with youth and families seeking support and connect them to resources.
I think of these situations often, as I was amazed by the bravery and kindness displayed by our team who deeply care for youth they mentor. In 2020, we realized we need to go even deeper in our ability to coach and provide support, so we invited Dr. Tynisha Worthy of Youth At The Center to lead a Mental Health First Aid Training for our staff.
My saddest moment over the past year came in December, when I attended the funeral of a Young Apprentice alumna who died by suicide. I will always honor the memory of Jada Kirk, one of the most talented young women I have known. She was a bright light, and I send love to her family, friends, teachers, and spiritual community.
Jada’s Teaching Artist Lindsey Whittle reached out to the Youth Apprentices who were closest to Jada, showing incredible compassion and support. An exemplary ArtWorks leader, Lindsey wrote this to the team: “Depression and anxiety are symptoms that your mental health needs assistance. So just as you would seek help for a broken arm, I hope you will also seek help when you feel your mental health is presenting symptoms. Sometimes that can be telling trusted friends and family that you are aware you are isolating, or it could be that you reach out to a school counselor, or a doctor or other professionals for help. All of you have so much value, and are so important, and I hope you would seek help if you need it. Seeking the help you need is brave, not shameful.”
I thank Lindsey for her wise words, and I’m proud to share them with you.
At ArtWorks, we are reflecting on how we can build community that is supportive, where safe spaces are created for youth to build their own bravery, courage and confidence. In addition to peer and mentor relationships, youth at ArtWorks have access to another powerful resource—art as the tool to express their feelings.
|
|
In 2018, ArtWorks partnered with Interact for Health to develop a game to decrease stigma around mental health, and conducted research alongside Cincinnati Children’s on safe ways to break down stigma through conversation. We engaged artist Kate Tepe to lead youth artists to design and develop a game called Hey. Let’s Talk. Please request a copy of Hey. Let’s Talk here, and share it with youth in your life.
One thing we know is it is critical to have an opportunity to connect with others, and at ArtWorks we continue to build the tools to care for ourselves and for others. ArtWorks is dedicating our next Viva Voce Artist Conversation to Mental Health and Self Care in the Arts on Thursday, June 10 at 5:30 p.m. where Artists will be speaking about their groundbreaking works on this topic. We hope to see you there.
In the meantime, reach out to the youth in your life and check in on them. Let them know you are here for them and that they are a valued part of our community.
Wishing you well,
|
|
Colleen Houston
ArtWorks CEO & Artistic Director
|
|
The 24-hour Hamilton County crisis intervention service is available at 513-281-CARE (2273) or by texting TALBERT to 839863.
|
|
New Video: Reaching New Heights Mural
|
|
Local artist and designer Christian Dallas, with the support of Youth Apprentice Marin Emanuel, completed this mural. Christian’s design celebrates military heritage, featuring several planes and iconic GE engines throughout history.
This mural was completed Spring 2021 and dedicated as part of ArtsWave 2021 Community Campaign. GE and its employees have supported the arts in the region through the community campaign for more than 40 years. #ForTheArtsForAll
|
|
Make Art. Get Paid. We're Hiring! |
|
Image by Sandra Okot-Kotber. |
|
ArtWorks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are strongly committed to building and retaining a diverse staff that creates an inclusive workplace which harnesses each voice to collectively advance ArtWorks’ mission.
|
|
Illustration by Henry Lindeman. |
|
ArtWorks Office
2460 Gilbert Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45206
|
|
ArtWorks Studio
424 Findlay Street
Cincinnati, OH 45214
|
|
ArtWorks at 25
The Spark That Started It All
|
|
Former Mayor Roxanne Qualls (right) with Chad Wick. From the ArtWorks archives. |
|
2021 marks ArtWorks’ 25 years of transformational impact. To celebrate, we will be sharing stories from ArtWorks’ alumni, who are part of an incredible legacy of transforming people and places through investments in creativity.
You could say ArtWorks was born at Harvard.
More specifically, the idea that would turn into ArtWorks was sparked at Harvard University’s Institute for New Mayors, a week-long seminar. All came together in 1993 in the mind of Cincinnati’s then newly elected mayor, Roxanne Qualls.
“As a big supporter of the arts, I saw this was an opportunity to create public art in many spaces throughout the city,” Qualls said.
|
|
If you are an ArtWorks alum who participated in our early days, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at 513.333.0388 or at info@artworkscincinnati.org.
|
|
Tickets Now On Sale
for 2021 Mural Walking Tours
|
|
A mural tour in front of Edie Harper's Crazy Cat. Crazy Quilt. Photo by Sandra Okot-Kotber.
|
|
This year, ArtWorks is bringing back our Downtown tour, along with our Over-the-Rhine and Pendleton tours.
“Viewing art is up close is a transformational experience and having our mural tour volunteers guide you is the best way to enjoy Cincinnati’s world-renowned murals,” said Liz Neidich, our mural tour coordinator. “Many community residents and visitors love ArtWorks mural tours, so I’m very excited we get to open our tour season with safety in mind. There is no better way to admire the urban landscape than to take an ArtWorks mural tour, and learn more about our city’s rich cultural history.”
|
|
Check out Erika Nj Allen and Maggie Lawson’s When Life Gives Us Lemons
|
|
A meal from When Life Gives Us Lemons. Photo by Lura Bentley.
|
|
“ArtWorks allowed us to create these unique experiences based on food and community support during a difficult year,” Allen said. “Together with Maggie and the youth apprentices, we were able to provide a resourceful, encouraging opportunity.”
|
|
Your Gift Will Make a Monumental Impact |
|
ArtWorks transforms young people by connecting them to creative professional mentors and their city. The program extends beyond the artwork and includes enrichment workshops in resume writing, interviewing, and financial literacy as well as public speaking experience. ArtWorks makes a permanent mark on each Apprentice and they make a permanent mark on our community.
|
|
Vote for Cincinnati in USA Today’s
Best City for Street Art Contest
|
|
Faces of Homelessness © 2017 ArtWorks / ICY AND SOT / 1225 Vine St. / Photo by J. Miles Wolf |
|
Get Ready to Vote in the May 4
Cincinnati Mayoral Primary
|
|
“When we vote, we represent our values,” wrote the Youth Apprentices in Hear Me Out. “When we vote, we represent our future. When we vote, we exercise our power, the people’s power. We are the people.”
|
|
Jenny Ustick's Mr. Dynamite mural from Main Street in OTR. Photo by Meg Vogel/The Enquirer.
|
|
Here are some recent news articles about ArtWorks, our volunteers, alumni and projects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
