by Tammy Weisheyer
The Washington Theatre Gallery at Patterson Park Community Center will exhibit work from artists from the Murfreesboro Healing Arts Project, Inc. (HAPI) through Wednesday, July 24.
HAPI is a nonprofit organization that serves the mental health community throughout Middle Tennessee by providing artistic opportunities for persons in mental health and addiction recovery to promote healing, community awareness and inclusion.
HAPI’s core programming includes free visual arts classes provided at peer support centers across Middle Tennessee. The nonprofit organizes classes, provides art materials and contracts experienced art teachers who plan classes around mental health principles and visual art. HAPI encourages interaction and involvement in the community by curating, managing and promoting public exhibits featuring artwork by HAPI artists.
“Art is an extension of who I am as a person. It allows me to express my emotions, process my feelings and find inner peace,” one HAPI artist stated.
HAPI team members say they feel proud to partner with The Community Art Gallery at Patterson Park Community Center to exhibit the creative artwork produced by Murfreesboro HAPI artists. The Washington Theatre exhibition will feature original artwork by artists, who attend HAPI art classes at Volunteer Behavioral Health—Our Place Peer Support Center and the Murfreesboro Tennessee Mental Health Consumer Association Peer Support Center.
For more information about the new gallery space, The Washington Theatre or the Murfreesboro HAPI exhibit, contact Susan Hicks at shicks@murfreesborotn.gov.
