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Local Gallery Hosts Mental Health Benefit

by KREX News Room
by Cori Coffin

Story Created: Jan 4, 2013 at 11:11 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 4, 2013 at 11:23 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - +1 Gallery is a small space looking to make a big impact.

"There was something there that needed to be addressed and this is what I could do," explained Kristian Hartter, the gallery's owner.

"Mental health care is so important. Folks can become depressed or have these underlying issues and maybe not even realize it," added Kristy Schmidt, the interim executive director for Marillac Clinic.

The gallery is asking the public to come out, enjoy local artwork and help raise funds that will go to the Marillac Clinic and Colorado West Regional Mental Health.

"The problems with mental health right now is that people have a stigma and they feel like it's not okay to talk about it. We're hoping that our community gets to a place where it's very comfortable to talk about mental health because that's how we're going to prevent things from happening," explained Michelle Hoy, regional director at Colorado Health.

Mental health experts say the need for more help on the Western Slope is high.

"We definitely have a higher suicide rate than lots of cities. [In addition], we are very rural, so it's harder to find really good support systems because we're so spread out," Hoy added.

+1 Gallery is giving 75 percent of its proceeds from local artists' pieces toward making the community a little stronger.

"There is a need here. It's universal, so I wanted to focus a little closer to home," said Hartter.

The art is available all through Jan. 2013. Anyone interested in contributing can visit +1 Gallery in the Alpine Bank Building in downtown Grand Junction, second floor.

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