Artreach Opens 'Peace in Nature' Gallery Exhibit on CT Open House Day June 8th

Artreach, Inc. is pleased to participate in Connecticut's Open House Day for the first time in 2024. The public is invited to join Artreach for an art exhibit and jazz music at its newly renovated gallery and workshop space located on the Uncas on Thames campus at 401 W. Thames Street in Norwich. The open house will take place from 12:00 - 4:00 pm and is free. For more information, visit www.CreativityisHealing.org.

Connecticut Open House Day, now in its 20th year, is an annual event held on the second Saturday of June. The purpose of this event is to inspire Connecticut residents to learn about all the experiences in their own backyard, anticipating that this will convert them into ambassadors who will recommend these experiences to other visitors. The state heavily promotes this event and typically enjoys significant press coverage each year.

Artreach will open its first art exhibit to take place at this location. "Peace in Nature" is a multifaceted collection of work reflecting the Sky, the Sea and the Land. As individuals, we see and experience the light and the leaves, the water and the sky through our own two eyes. As a group of artists, we combine to bring a new depth to our art. Just as beauty exists in reaction to or in conjunction with its surroundings, so we find simple peace in the complexity of nature. Some of the works were originally created in 2020, when Artreach took its visual arts program outdoors to restart programming during the pandemic. New works have been added to the show, created more recently with the same inspiration from nature.

Artreach's jazz band, newly named Baggage Claim, will play during the open house. Light refreshments will be served.

The gallery was made possible with support from the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS); CT Department of Economic and Community Development/Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; CTHumanities; and the Norwich Rotary Foundation. Artreach, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, also receives funding from the City of New London (ARPA/Fair Shot); City of Norwich (ARPA/Impact grants with the Cultural Coalition); Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut; Chelsea Groton Foundation; The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation; and countless individuals. Show sponsors this season include: Lawrence & Memorial Hospital/Yale New Haven Health, Chelsea Groton Bank, Dime Bank, and UCFS.

ABOUT ARTREACH
Artreach heals through creativity. Using the creative arts, Artreach supports sustainable recovery from psychiatric disorders and raises awareness about mental health in the community-at-large. By providing theater, music, visual arts, and recreational opportunities to members, Artreach enhances the quality of its members' lives and teaches skills that help them achieve and sustain recovery after experiencing mental illnesses. Our public performances and art exhibits engage attendees in conversation about mental health and serve to bust the stigma of mental illness, creating social change in our community. Founded in 1985, Artreach is known for the Second Step Players sketch comedy troupe, the Music Heals Coffeehouse, and Mixed Bag performances of comedy and music. www.CreativityisHealing.org and social media @ArtreachHeals.