Elm Brook Place to host first art show

Jun. 17--Elm Brook Place, a program in Burlington serving people with mental illness, is inviting the community to a first-of-its-kind art show on June 22.

"We just happen to have a lot of members who are very talented artists, said Leslie Johnson, a member of Elm Brook Place, who organized the show, and will be displaying her charcoal portraits. Other members will display photography, pen and ink, sculpture, acrylic paintings, and crafts, some of which will be available for purchase. Still others, who are talented musicians, will play music during the event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be guest speakers and tours of Elm Brook Place, and hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served, Johnson said.

Elm Brook Place, a program of Eliot Community Human Services, Inc. is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. The day program operates on the internationally-known "clubhouse" model, which offers people living with mental illness opportunities for friendship, employment, housing, education and access to medical and psychiatric services in a single caring and safe environment, according to the Clubhouse International website. According to its literature, Elm Brook Place provides a welcoming, empowering community environment that promotes hope, recovery and independence for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Central to this are opportunities for meaningful work, meaningful relationships, employment, education, affordable housing, health and wellness and entitlement assistance.

Members run the kitchen and snackbar, publish a newsletter, and perform all of the tasks involved in running the clubhouse, Johnson said. "People with psychiatric disabilities are free to come and go and have lots of time to socialize, make friends and enjoy friendships," she said.

Johnson said she first started coming to Elm Brook Place after a bout of severe depression and anxiety. The program gave her an opportunity to transition back into regular life, she said.

"It's been a really good place for me," she said. "I'm really glad I had it."

Art show attendees will have an opportunity to "listen to some member stories of recover, listen to music and hopefully have a good time," Johnson said.

Elm Brook's website is elmbrookplace.org.

For more information about the art show and open house, call 781-202-3478. Elm Brook Place is located at 4 A St., first floor, Burlington.

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