Lakewood exhibit shines spotlight on mental health illness - #lakewoodnews

The centerpiece of the 2016 Leadership Jefferson County class' Art of Mind exhibit is a painting of a dog by Julia Fleming.

The painting is the last work she created before taking her own life in last August, and served as the inspiration for her husband Jeremy Fleming, a member of the 2016 Leadership class, to create the exhibit.

"This started about a month after Julia passed, when our class was at a retreat, brainstorming what our project should be," he said. "We came up with the idea of an art exhibit that would look at mental illness in Julia's memory."

The exhibit opened on May 10 at 40 West Arts Gallery, 1560 Teller St., and runs through May 21. All the works were created by artists who are fighting their own battles with mental illness, or whose lives have been touched by mental illness.

"I'm incredibly proud of this exhibit, and Jeremy, who has shown incredible strength and inspiration," said Krista Lewis, director of development with the Jefferson Center for Mental Health and a member of the Leadership class. "We had so many entries, and it shows how mental illness is an issue for all of us. This art gives voice to that."

The Leadership class, family and supporters were all on hand for the May 11 opening. The event was emceed by 9 News' Whitney Wild, and featured representatives from Carson J. Spencer Foundation, Jefferson Center for Mental Health and Second Wind Fund, because all the money raised from the exhibit goes to support their suicide prevention efforts.

"The issue of suicide prevention is important for all of us," said Jeanne Oliver, vice-president of marketing and development for the Jefferson Center for Mental Health. "The fact that Jeffco Leadership brings so many people together for a project like this is so great."

Area mayors from Lakewood, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Westminster and Arvada selected their favorite pieces, and winners were chosen by Wheat Ridge artist Benjamin Rogers.

The real winners are the beneficiary organizations, which will be able to continue to prevent suicide thanks to these funds.

"We're only able to do what we do because of community support," said Richard Eveleigh, executive director of Second Wind. "Art is not only great for the person creating it, but the people who see it. It's a powerful outlet."

To donate online, visit www.coloradogives.org/theartofmind.

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Lakewood-exhibit-shines-spotlight-on-mental-health-illness,213577