Skip to main content
The Ruby is a catalyst for creativity and a home for making art at Duke.
Date & Time
December 6, 2019 at 12:00 pm1:00 pm
Admission
Free; open to all.
Venue
Ruby Lounge at the Rubenstein Arts Center
2020 Campus Drive
Durham, NC 27705 United States
Description

Drop by the Ruby on Friday at noon for a casual art talk and free lunch to learn about the behind-the-scenes aspect of the creative process, careers in the arts, and more.

Melissa Miller and a panel of artists will discuss The Art of Mental Health, a community exhibit of artwork by local artists that focuses on active efforts to create or maintain mental health and wellness. Maintaining our mental health is a lifelong process that requires intentional effort reflecting both science and art.

The science of mental health refers to research about factors that generally contribute to improved well-being—such as exercise, consistent sleep, being in nature, engaging in enjoyable activities, and doing things that give us a sense of accomplishment.

The art of mental health is the individual process to determine which of these factors are important to our own unique sense of wellness. We continually experiment to learn what works as we strive to improve or maintain our emotional wellness.

Miller will discuss her hopes for the community impact of this exhibit, and the artists will share their personal interpretations of The Art of Mental Health.

Panelists:

  • Sujal Manohar is a senior at Duke, studying Neuroscience and Visual Arts, who is interested in incorporating the arts into medicine.
  • Christine Hager-Braun, who grew up in Germany, moved to the US to pursue her career as scientist; and, for more than twelve years now, has been enjoying life as a full-time fiber artist.
  • Stacy Crabill is a mixed media artist who maintains life balance by running, beekeeping and gardening in addition to her art.

About the Exhibit Curator

Melissa Miller is a psychologist by day and an artist by night. She earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, and she worked at Duke University Medical Center from 2012-2019. Miller joined the team at the Triangle Area Psychology Clinic in August 2019, where she continues to promote mental health and wellness. She is an avid art collector and supporter, and creating and consuming art helps her to stay grounded, evoke creativity, feel fervent emotions, and connect with others. The Art of Mental Health Exhibit is a synthesis of two things that she loves, and she is thrilled to share this with her community.

Tune into events & opportunities!

Sign up for our newsletter