Crafting the Mind Opening Reception

“Crafting the Mind” is a contemporary fiber art exhibition that traces the roots of craft as therapeutic practice at McLean Hospital.

Join us for the opening reception of Crafting the Mind on Thursday, January 15th, 6pm - 8pm.

“Crafting the Mind” is an exhibition of contemporary fiberb art that speaks to the early history of crafts as a therapeutic practice at McLean Hospital, the country’s first psychiatric hospital. McLean was opened at Somerville’s Barrell Mansion in 1818, and today the Somerville Museum holds the

mansion’s original flying staircase. McLean patients created textiles and other crafts for therapeutic benefit as part of the hospital’s “moral cure,” an approach to treatment that emphasized compassionate care, access to nature, and patient activities. “Crafting the Mind” explores the evolving definitions of “care,” “health,” and “treatment” in different cultural contexts, as well as today’s advocacy movement for mental healthcare equity.

Curators: Danielle Krcmar and Rachel May.

Artists: Betty Antoine, Amy Caliri, Cicely Carew, Mimi Clark, Alison Doucette, Leah Dunn, Farah Faustin, Samantha Fields, Ifé Franklin, Kate Holcomb Hale, Kayla Johnson, Lauren Leone, Joetta Maue, Michele Moran, Loretta Park, Carl Phillips, Darryl Richards, Carter Schocket, Josie Sosa, Matthew Treggiari.

Admission: $8*; free to Museum members and visitors 12 years of age and under.

*Admission fees help the museum cover programming, staffing, and overhead expenses. These fees help us keep the doors open to the public.

For tickets visit Eventbrite.