National Alliance on Mental Illness Kane County North to sponsor celebratory art exhibit

Submitted by NAMI

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is an organization devoted to advocacy, support and education for people with mental illness and their families.

Its local community affiliate, NAMI Kane County North, is celebrating 25 years devoted to this mission.

In celebration, the affiliate is sponsoring an art exhibit Saturday, July 20, at Presence St. Joseph Hospital, 77 N. Airlite St., in Elgin. The theme is “The Iris,” NAMI Kane County North’s symbol. The iris, throughout history, has symbolized hope. Vincent Van Gogh painted at least one of his Iris paintings while hospitalized for his mental illness.

This exhibit is open to children and adults. Its message is that art is an important form of expression, and they are inviting the community to participate.

They will accept interpretations of the Iris in any media, 2-D or 3-D, but there will be size limitations. Fabric art, paintings, photography, pastels, collage, sculpture, poetry and drawings are just some of the categories. There is no entry fee, and all participants will receive a certification of participation.

Viewers of the gallery will cast their votes in the adult and children’s category, and the winners in each will be offered the opportunity to have their art on NAMI Kane County North’s note cards, promotional items and bookmarks. Winners must sign a release form for their work to be featured in the promotional items.

For information, contact Laurie Huske at (847) 695-7957 or lauriehuske@wowway.com; or Lynette Niequist at (630) 584-7481 or theneeks@att.net. Find [URL]“NAMI Kane County North”;https://www.facebook.com/namikanecountynorth?fref=ts[URL] on Facebook.[/URL]