Exhibition on view March 18th through May 10th
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, March 23rd from 2p-4p
This exhibition will provide a platform for artists to share their experiences, challenge stereotypes, and foster an understanding of living with mental health conditions and/or disabilities. The array of disorders is widespread and individuals may suffer from multiple disorders at once. From anxiety to eating disorders to post-traumatic stress disorder to phobias, vision impairment to POTS, cognitive disabilities to chronic pain, and more, the signs and symptoms vary from person to person. Our goal is to provide education on the conditions and symptoms and how to cope using tools such as art, therapy, support groups, and others services offered throughout our community. A portion of the proceeds from this show will be donated to Valley Youth House of the Lehigh Valley. If you'd like to donate directly to Valley Youth House, please use the fundraising link we have created and added below.
Meet the Curators
Elise Schaffer
Artist & Coordinator of Museum Experience and Accessibility at Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG)
Elise Schaffer is a Lehigh Valley native and passionate arts and disability advocate. She currently works as the Coordinator of Museum Experience and Accessibility at Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG).
In addition to her work at LUAG, Elise works seasonally as the Accessibility Coordinator for Touchstone Theatre’s Festival Unbound, a Board Member at Godfrey Daniels | Live Music Listening Room, Gallery Coordinator at the Galleries at Steel Pixel Studios, and Co-host and Co-founder of Lehigh Valley Arts Podcast.
Outside of work, Elise enjoys attending local arts and cultural events, playing the violin and ukulele, and a variety of handicraft art-making from embroidery and polymer clay to papier-mâché and collage.
Nina Boodhansingh
Artist & Co-owner, Director, and Curator of Midnight Gallery
Nina Boodhansingh is an abstract painter and collage artist from the Lehigh Valley. She is the Co-owner, Director, and Curator of Midnight Galley. She received her BFA from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 2010 and is a former Resident Artist of Kutztown University (Kutztown, PA), The Cigar Factory (Allentown, PA), and The Banana Factory (Bethlehem, PA). She established Midnight Gallery in 2022 with her business partner.
Nina is a dedicated curator and juror and serves as a mentor to artists of all levels. She collaborates with local schools, universities, and organizations, where she generously shares her knowledge and skills with the community. She is a passionate mental health advocate, dedicated to giving back and making a positive impact.
Outside of the art business, Nina loves working in her home studio, gardening, tending to a plethora of house plants, hiking, exploring nature, roller skating, and spending time with family, friends, and her husband and their super cute dog.
