Community centre unveils inspiring art installations

Colorful artwork now adorns the walls of the Hanna Center’s Community Mental Health Hub, brightening the lives of visitors and staff alike.

Displayed in the lobby, hallway and conference room, the artworks were created on 12 x 12 inch tiles using paint, origami and other media, then arranged into cohesive displays and assembled for installation.

Many clients have said the art is calming and uplifting, and some clinicians have requested tiles be installed in their offices.

The tiles were not created by professional artists, but by Sonoma Valley Hospital leaders, mentees and mentors from the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, visitors to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art and other community members.

“Seeing the walls of our mental health center transformed by the collective efforts of our community is inspiring for clients and staff,” said Cameron Safarloo, CEO of the Hanna Center. “This project beautifies our space and reinforces the message that mental health is a shared responsibility that we can all contribute to.”

Leslie Petersen, vice president of development at the Hanna Center, led the project after the center officially opened in 2023.

“The Community Mental Health Hub is a resource for the entire community, not just the youth who reside on our campus,” she said. “Welcoming the community for mental health support is new to Hanna. This community art project was a way to let the community know that everyone is welcome, to make people feel like they are contributing and included here on our campus. Additionally, art can be very therapeutic for those who create it and those who view it.”

Pat Meier Johnson, the 2022 Sonoma Treasure artist, suggested creating the artwork on interchangeable 12-by-12-inch tiles. Johnson connected Petersen with Linda Keaton, executive director of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, and Miki Hsu Leavey, its resident teaching artist and education program coordinator, to make the project happen.

“Miki worked with us and with each of the groups of people who created the work,” Petersen said. “She assessed each group and found the medium that would be used and best suited for their creative process.”

Some groups suggested what medium to use. For example, the leadership team at Sonoma Valley Hospital told Leavey they were willing to try something new.

“They wanted to experiment with painting and chose the medium to work with,” Leavey said. “Their attitude of saying ‘yes’ or ‘I’ll try that!’ was important to others and to their own sense of confidence, because colleagues and patients are more open to growth when they are involved and persistent, despite any setbacks they may encounter along the way.”

Leavey said she advocated an inclusive and accessible approach, in which creative expression and a wide variety of artistic techniques could be taught and encouraged.

“By using the arts and the general format of 12 x 12 inch canvas tiles, put together by various community members and their subsequent workshops, we were able to invite everyone from ages 3 to 100 to participate in a world of discovery,” she said. “Participants were able to share their thoughts and feelings on a topic and give love to those who need it. Art is food for the soul.”

She said that while these individual paintings by untrained artists may not be masterpieces, when combined they can convey a powerful message of love, support and hope.

“It’s important to remember that the value of a work of art is not just about whether you’re willing to buy it or hang it in your home,” Leavey said. “Sometimes the most impactful works are the ones that speak to the heart. By looking beyond superficial judgments, we open ourselves up to discovering hidden treasures that can truly touch our souls.”

Leavey noted that numerous research studies have shown that the arts influence both the creator and the viewer, saying they are important to “our joys, our attitudes, our compassion that affects each of us, our children and all of society.”

She stressed the importance of the healing role that art can play within the centre.

“The center provides services to people in severe psychological distress,” Leavey said. “The goal of this community art project is to convey a message of loving support, calm and help, expressed by strangers, to those who are anxious and suffering.”

Margie Maynard, associate director of engagement and exhibitions at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, added, “Art is one of the best ways to begin to heal the impact of trauma because seeing and creating it allows us to express ourselves gradually, often without words. It also gives us the time we need to feel safe, not only with the center, but also within our own community, with which we may have lost touch.”

Plans are underway to include creations from more groups — including Vintage House seniors and possibly Hub clients — in the project.

“Vintage House has created a few pieces and we look forward to seeing them selected and hung soon,” Petersen said. “We still have tiles waiting to be created to fill the walls of the hub, and people can contact me if they are interested in participating. We will continue to work on this project until all the walls are filled with beautiful community artwork.”

Organizers hope to hold an opening event this winter, once the center is filled with art.

“This is another opportunity for us to welcome the community to Hanna, to honor the artists who created the works and to give people a chance to learn about what’s happening at the Community Mental Health Hub,” she said. “We envision the event being like a museum opening reception, with light snacks and wine, giving people a chance to walk through the building and see all the creativity in our valley.”

Safarloo said the success of the project demonstrates the power of collaboration between mental health services and the arts.

“By involving diverse groups in the creation of this artwork, we have strengthened community ties and reduced the stigma around mental health care,” he said.

Leavey added: “There are many opportunities to share friendships, philosophies and activities that bring people together and create an atmosphere of discovery, fun, curiosity and even problem-solving. We thrive when we are socially engaged and accepted by others, and we grow when we learn new things.”

Contact reporter Dan Johnson at [email protected].