Healing Arts 2025 - Counseling Services - University of Utah Counseling Center

Welcome to the third annual Healing Art Showcase! Sponsored by the University of Utah’s
Counseling Center and the College of Fine Arts, this Showcase addresses how mental health
impacts our student’s well-being, including their academic and personal functioning. Through
the sharing of student-created art, we hope to decrease mental health stigma and help
students find commonality among a shared experience.

The theme for this year’s showcase is Loneliness and Connection. In an age where digital
interaction often replaces face-to-face connection, we invite student artists to explore their
own experiences of feeling socially isolated and disconnected from others. Then, either as a
separate piece of art or as part of the same piece, we invite artists to depict the experience of
connection to others. Consider the healing that can be experienced when being understood
and truly seen by someone else, the comfort that can come from shared vulnerability, or the
experience of belonging to a group—be it family, friends, roommates, classmates, coworkers, a
therapy group, a club, a religion, etc. This exhibit invites you to explore the unique perspective
on how we navigate the ebb and flow of being alone and being together.

2025 Healing Art Showcase Entry Form

Contact Information

The Healing Art Showcase will be held on display in the Union lobby from February 24-28, 2025.

Cash prizes of $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place will go to the top three entries that will be decided on by the attendees of the exhibit, i.e., this will be determined by the People’s Choice Awards or a “community vote”.
Entry Submission Deadline is Feb. 19th, 2025.

Eligibility
All entries must be original works of art, created within the past 3 years and artists must identify as a current University of Utah student. All entries should come with a brief explanation of how the art piece represents the themes of loneliness and connection. The explanation should be no more than 500 words (no more than 2 paragraphs).

Process of Entry
1) Fill out entry form above (in red).
2) Attach a photo of your artwork in the form (file type limited to JPG, PNG, and PDF).
3) Entry forms are due by Feb. 19th, 2025.
4) Selected artwork must be delivered to the Counseling Center (SSB Rm. 426) by Thursday,
Feb. 20th at 5pm. (unless other arrangements are agreed upon between the artist and the
Counseling Center).
5) If you need special assistance in submitting your work, please contact Christina Kelly LeCluyse: cklecluyse@.sa.utah.edu with the subject “Healing Art Showcase Entry”.

2024 Winner, 1^st Place

Pablo Francisco Cruze-Ayala for Lamentations across Guachimontones

Rules of Entry
1) There is no entry fee.
2) The maximum number of submissions is two (2).
3) We are accepting two dimensional work in the following media: Drawing, Painting,
Photography, Printmaking, Collage and Computer-Generated Imagery.
4) Artwork will be displayed as is! Please have the artwork framed or prepared as
appropriate, and ready to be placed on an easel.
5) Artists must include measurements of each submission on the application form.
6) The Counseling Center is not responsible for lost, stolen, or misdirected entries.
7) The Counseling Center is not responsible for artwork being damaged; signs indicating to
not touch the artwork will be placed around the exhibit, but it is not guaranteed that
artwork will not be touched (e.g., not in protective casing).
8) Your entry acknowledges acceptance of the rules of entry.

2024 Winner, 2^nd Place

Mors Smith for Home Artist Statement

Criteria and Judging
Judging will take place the last day of the Healing Art Showcase (Feb. 28th).
We will have 3 People’s Choice Awards which will be chosen by the showcase attendees.
Each attendee will have the chance to vote for their top 3 favorite art submissions.
The top three art pieces will be awarded a cash prize of:
1st Place: $300
2nd place: $200
3rd place: $100
Participants who attend the showcase will be asked to judge the pieces on the basis of: original
concept, expressive use of media, artistic excellence, and representation of the theme of
Loneliness and Connection.
Submit entries using the form above. Be sure that all information is complete on submissions.

*Adapted from University of UC Irving Healing Arts program.*

2024 Winner, 3^rd Place

Andrea Fabrega for Mourning Time

University Counseling Center

Student Affairs

2025 Healing Art Showcase:

Loneliness and Connection

2025 Healing Art Showcase Entry Form

Additional Information

Winners will be announced here!