Free Discussion at ArtServe "Painting Our Minds" on Art and Mental Health

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ArtServe Painting Our Minds 700 X 700 - 1

ArtServe and World AIDS Museum and Educational Center Host Discussion Thurs., June 1

ArtServe and World AIDS Museum and Educational Center Host Discussion Thurs., June 1

When talk therapy is off the table because strong emotions make mentioning “that which is better left unsaid” too daunting, some turn to the creative arts to help them release their feelings and manage their mental health.

On Thursday, June 1, ArtServe joins the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center to present a panel discussion called “Painting Our Minds” on how artistry and self-expression can often heal, inspire and elevate well-being.

Featuring ArtServe protégé and artist Niki Lopez together with Licensed Mental Health Counselor Klifton S. Fehr as guest panelists, the two-hour event takes place at The Our Fund Foundation Hall at ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free.

“I call it the ‘Elephant in the Room,’” Lopez said. In fact, she created “What’s Your Elephant,” a program that creates a safe space for people to dialogue and bring awareness to the unspoken through art. It includes visual and performing arts, interactive arts, creative community building, hands-on projects, workshops and events.

Fehr, who has dedicated himself to helping those suffering with severe and persistent mental illness, serial incarcerations, substance use disorders and other mental health concerns, particularly enjoys helping young people build their self-esteem, enhance their levels of empathy, increase their collaborative abilities and improve their capacity to set healthy boundaries.

The event includes free food and beverages, along with live entertainment and a “spoken word” oral poetry presentation by Rebecca Butterfly Vaughns.

Along with collaboration by ArtServe and the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center, the event is made possible by support from Broward Cultural Division and The Our Fund Foundation.

Sponsored by MyPsychiatrist.com and Broward Health, ArtServe’s mental health-themed art exhibit currently runs through Fri., June 16, 2023, and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. ArtServe is located at 1350 E. Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

ArtServe inspires, supports and advances its diverse members, artists and community by promoting artistic development, education and prosperity through the exploration and presentation of the visual and performing arts.

About ArtServe

Named a “2020 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits, Fort Lauderdale-based ArtServe is an award-winning arts incubator that is advancing the arts for social good as a creative laboratory and hub for experimental artists committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Now in its 35th year, ArtServe has won several awards for innovation in the arts and is supported in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and Florida’s Department of State and the Division of Cultural Affairs. Each year, ArtServe programs contribute tangibly to the region’s economy, helping 2,000+ artists sell their work, build businesses and engage the community. To do that, ArtServe secures financial support through donations, sponsorships and memberships.