Ashtabula Art Center hosts “Hope in Artistry” exhibition.

Nov. 26 – ASHTABULA – On Thursday, the Ashtabula Art Center hosted its eighth annual “Hope in Artistry” exhibition. The program aimed to raise awareness about suicide prevention and reduce the stigma around mental health.

“The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board has been working with the Ashtabula Center for the Arts since 2017 to host this annual art show,” said Bridget Sherman, director of Youth and Mental Health Recovery Services for Ashtabula County. “Many people who have experienced hopelessness or lost a loved one to suicide have found that artistic expression is healing and supportive in recovery. The purpose of the show is to reduce the stigma associated with behavioral health issues and raise awareness of suicide prevention in Ashtabula County.”

According to MHRS, 29 people died by suicide in Ashtabula County in 2023.

Ashtabula Arts Center Director of Visual Arts Nancy Nelson-Brotz said the show brings together artists of all ages to explore the topic of mental health through a variety of mediums.

“I’ve heard people say in the past that we shouldn’t talk to little kids about this,” she said. “I really think we should start with them. If it’s not a stigma, it won’t be a stigma for life. You really need to have an open dialogue about mental health issues and suicide and how it affects the people around you. It’s not just about you. This affects all your friends and family.

The show takes place every November in conjunction with Suicide Prevention Month.

The exhibition featured a variety of artworks including textiles, watercolor, photography, mixed media and clay.

“I really liked the variety of entries,” Nelson-Brotz said. “What people felt about mental health in their case. Some of them may have had something darker that they were trying to work through, and the images are a little darker. Some people just think that every day is a new day and I will get up and deal with it, so it will be more positive and uplifting.”

The open theme allowed artists to interpret mental health in their own way, whether by reflecting on personal struggles or by offering a message of hope and healing.

The Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Board visited students from local schools, including Lakeside and Edgewood, encouraging them to use art as a therapeutic medium.

“It really helps kids work through emotions that they might not be able to express otherwise,” Nelson-Brotz said. “Art can be a powerful tool for processing difficult feelings and experiences.”

He believes mental health issues have increased, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I think a lot of kids have really focused their entire lives on the Internet,” Nelson-Brotz said. “They don’t realize it’s so artificial. They will accept it as true. It helps to do something tangible, real, with pen on paper, brush on canvas, to help filter those feelings.”

Nelson-Brotz highlighted first-place winner Linda Janoski’s work, “A Light in the Darkness.”

“I just really liked the simplicity,” Nelson-Brotz said. “It’s a very elegant piece that says a lot without being overly complicated.”

Looking to the future, she shared her plans to expand the exhibition’s impact.

“We hope to include journalism programs next year for those who may not consider themselves artists but still want to express their feelings creatively,” Nelson-Brotz said. “We will also continue to work with local schools to ensure students have the opportunity to explore their mental health through the arts.”

[email protected]