Opening Reception of “Holding Space” Art Exhibition
Friday, April 10, 2026 | 5:00 – 8:00PM The Strand Center for the Arts
Plattsburgh, NY — Behavioral Health Services North (BHSN) and the Strand Center for the Arts invite the community to “Holding Space,” a collaborative exhibition exploring the universal intersection of mental health and creative expression.
Click here for photos from last year’s event
The gallery will feature a diverse collection of works from the public alongside powerful pieces created by program participants in BHSN’s Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) program and BHSN staff. This exhibition serves as a dedicated environment to “hold space” for the individual psyche and the various ways art informs the mental health journey.
“Art is more than creativity; it’s a language of emotion. For those who create, it’s a way to process and express what words often can’t capture. For those who engage with it, it’s a reminder that we are not alone in how we feel,” said Katherine Cook, President & CEO at BHSN. “Art connects us — and in that connection, we find community, empathy, and healing. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we celebrate the artists, the art, and the shared human experience that brings us together.”
“With this exhibition being an open show for the public to submit artwork to, it’s likely that we’ll see a lot of familiar artists as well as new ones. Exhibitions that have a theme give the general public a greater opportunity to display their work. Having this exhibition up all through Mental Health Month in May worked out so well and it gives even more meaning to this show,” said Elsa Koop-Angelicola, Gallery Manager & Associate Curator at The Strand Center for the Arts.
Representatives from BHSN and the Strand Center for the Arts, as well as select participating artists, will be available for interviews regarding the therapeutic impact of the arts and the importance of community mental health visibility. The exhibit will remain open April 11 through May 30, in recognition of Mental Health Month in May.
Posted: April 2nd, 2026 under Adirondack Region News, Arts and Entertainment, City News, Community Events, General News, Heathcare News, Northern NY News, Social Issues.