Springfield College Art Therapy/Counseling Program Co-Sponsors Art Exhibition

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College Art Therapy/Counseling program will co-sponsor the Crossroads Art and Healing exhibition, which includes a collection of artworks from several art organizations that provide opportunities for creative expression to people living with challenges.

The exhibit will take place March 4-29 at the MAP Gallery in the Eastworks Building, 116 Pleasant St., in Easthampton. The opening reception will be March 9 from 5 to 8 p.m.

In addition, on March 27, Springfield College Professor of Art Therapy Simone Alter-Muri and graduate fellow Kate Golding will talk about the art therapy program at Springfield College starting at 7 p.m. at the MAP Gallery.

Organizations participating in the art exhibition include the Anchor House of Artists, ArteSana, Art from the Heart, and Riverside Industries. The artwork represents a broad range of approaches and includes works from the organizations’ art directors, as well as the artwork of the program participants. This exhibit honors the graduates and supervisors of the Springfield College Art Therapy/Counseling Program who make a difference in the community, and recognizes the Easthampton City Arts.

Anchor House of Artists was established in 1997 by sculptor and Springfield College graduate Mike Tillyer, to advance the career needs of artists living with mental illnesses. The gallery, performance arena, shared studio spaces, and its newly launched New England Visionary Artists Museum, are at 518 Pleasant St. in Northampton.

The Art from the Heart program is sponsored by the Rays of Hope Walk, striving for a cure for breast cancer. Springfield College Art Therapy/Counseling program graduate, Pat Hayes, facilitates a series of workshops for people living with breast cancer. The program was founded in 1997. 

ArteSana is a nonprofit social enterprise based in Holyoke, with a mission to expand opportunities for women impacted by systemic inequalities through creativity and entrepreneurship. ‘Artesana’ means female artisan in Spanish, but this word also contains two words within it – arte meaning art and sana meaning heals – which together means “art heals.” The name reflects the program’s core belief in the importance of art and creativity in social transformation at both the individual and community levels.  

The Riverside Arts program provides individuals with the tools to explore their own creative potential and employment opportunities through self-expression. This program provides people with disabilities an in-depth opportunity to make art and exhibit their work in the community. Springfield College Art Therapy/Counseling program graduate, Halley Philips, serves as the Riverside Arts program’s art program director.