The Art of Wellness: Creativity, Community & Mental Health in May
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to slow down, check in, and explore the many ways we can care for our emotional well-being. At Gallery500, we believe that experiencing art is just as therapeutic as creating art - the experience can be a powerful form of therapy that helps us process, express, and reconnect.
Creative expression has long been linked to reduced stress, improved mood, and a deeper sense of presence. Whether you're viewing a photograph that stirs emotion or creating something with your own hands, art invites a moment of mindfulness that can be both grounding and healing. This month, we encourage our community to embrace small, meaningful practices through Youth Emotional Support's (YES) 31 Days of Self-Care calendar inspired by Maddie’s Checklist—simple daily actions designed to support mental wellness in approachable ways.
We’re also proud to spotlight local opportunities that bring art and emotional support together:
On May 14th from 5:30–7:30 PM, join us at Gallery500 for a hands-on Wind chime Workshop led by artist Janie Lewandowski. This welcoming, no-experience-needed class invites you to create your own hand-painted windchime—something beautiful, personal, and lasting. It’s a chance to slow down, connect, and leave with a piece that carries both sound and meaning.
Beyond the gallery walls, important conversations are happening in our community. Youth Emotional Support (YES), together with Advent Health Daytona Beach, presents “What Every Parent Needs to Know” on May 4th at 5:30 PM at Spruce Creek High School (Media Center). Featuring speakers Lindsey Babcock, MS, LMHC, and Dr. Amy Hall, LMHC, Ph.D., this event offers valuable insight into youth mental health and how families can better support it.
Later in the month, come out for a fun and impactful evening at BINGO Night benefiting YES on May 28th at Daytona State College’s Mori Hosseini Building. The night will include a live auction, 50/50 raffle, and a variety of local gift cards and prizes—all in support of youth emotional wellness initiatives.
Mental health is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Whether you find comfort in creativity, conversation, or community, there is space for you here. Stop in Gallery500 to experience a moment of calm, enjoy our Wind Chime Workshop and enjoy an evening of creativity or have fun with BINGO in support of YES supporting mental health in our community. This May, we invite you to engage, create, and support one another—because healing can start with something as simple as a moment of art.
-Your Gallery500 Team