Unbound

Unbound transforms a recreation hall in one of California’s largest psychiatric hospitals into an evocative space of healing, creativity and wonder.

In collaboration with the DSH-Napa Rehabilitation Services Department, headed by Camille Gentry, RTC, the project involves a team of rehabilitation therapists and 3-months of programming for hundreds of patients and staff, integrating other modalities such as music, movement, poetry and spoken word.  The installation expands and grows over the 3-month period as various sized hearts are hung on the sculpture as they are produced by patients and the outside community.

Evan Graff MA, ATR, an Art Therapist at DSH-Napa proposed the project to the hospital, and sees it as “offering hope, resilience and faith” at a time when patients’ spirits are very low, with having only virtual visitations since the beginning of the pandemic.  In helping the DSH-Napa community heal from the isolation and difficulties of the past year, the project aims to also increase compassion and decrease stigma around issues of mental health in our community.  

Unbound artist Tracy Ferron states,

“The intention of the project is for compassion and a sense of connection, of our common humanity, to ripple out as an antidote to the fear and division plaguing our society. It is my belief that personal healing, the forging of a robust social fabric and creating a just world are all intimately interwoven.”

This visceral artwork expresses our collective desire as human beings, for liberation, for beauty and connection; however, it is created for and with a population most often forgotten in our society.

At its core, Unbound is a testament to how our human family can come together with open hearts to create beauty, forge compassion and acknowledge those who feel most unseen and unloved in our society.

First place winner in the Arts for Innovation category of the Cam Busch NOAH Arts in Health Awards, 2022

The NOAH Arts for Innovation award recognizes individuals or organizations offering visual or performing arts programs supporting health care, educational and community needs.

This national award honors artists or arts in health programs in community or clinical settings, who demonstrate an arts project or initiative in a health setting that has measurably improved the health or wellbeing of the intended population.