Art at the Center
The Lewis & Clark Art Therapy program has released a self-reflective, 22-minute documentary film exploring the program’s expansion into the Lewis & Clark Community Counseling Center and discussing the benefits that the new space has to offer to both graduate students and community members alike.
In their recently released short documentary film, Art at the Center, the Lewis & Clark Art Therapy Program explores the values of the program, the narrative of how new studio and exhibition space at the Lewis & Clark Community Counseling Center came to be, and the accessible opportunities offered to the public. Most importantly, it shines a light on the testimony of community members who were willing to share their firsthand experiences connecting and creating in the space.
The documentary is about how making art is healing and liberatory, and emphasizes the value of engaging in art making in a shared space,” explains Mary Andrus, Art Therapy Professor and Program Co-Director. “All these factors help build connections, which results in reducing isolation and loneliness among participants.
Dedicated to providing high quality, low cost mental health services, the Lewis & Clark Community Counseling Center provides individuals, families, couples, and children with easily accessible, culturally informed, and world-class treatment. As part of Lewis & Clark’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling, services at the Community Counseling Center are provided by advanced therapist-trainees enrolled in the graduate school’s counseling and therapy programs, under the direct supervision of their faculty and licensed supervisors. A recently completed renovation added additional treatment rooms as well as new studio and gallery space that has enabled art therapy graduate students to begin offering art therapy mental health services to the Portland community.
We hope viewers of the film increase their awareness of the Community Counseling Center as a resource for accessing mental health and wellness services,” shares Andrus. “We welcome people to attend our open studio sessions, art workshops, community art shows and meetups. We are open to collaborating with community partners to create new events that bring people together, create a sense of belonging and community engagement through art.
“Part of our expansion into the Community Counseling Center was establishing a digital media lab, in addition to the new art studio and exhibition space,” says Kris Bella, Art Therapy Faculty and Clinical Coordinator. “Professor Andrus and I procured funding from the Mt Hood Cable Regulatory Commission to purchase the equipment for the digital media lab, with matching funds from L&C to pay an art therapy graduate student, Orsi Nagy, to make the film. The film brings attention to the expanded services being offered in the space and the value of art therapy as an accessible approach to wellness and mental health.”
Nagy, a third year graduate student in the art therapy program, says the most important message in the film is that art can be a valuable tool for healing, and that we want it to be accessible to anyone who needs it.
We hope to remove barriers and give more people the opportunity to heal in a vibrant creative community.
Nagy coordinated interviews throughout the Portland Metro Area and attended numerous events to capture the spirit of this creative community on camera. She also edited the film prior to its release, with feedback from Professors Andrus and Bella that helped shape the finished product.
Andrus, Bella, and Nagy extend their gratitude to all interviewees who gave their time and their voices to this endeavor; all of the event attendees who were willing to share their creativity on camera; Lewis & Clark’s faculty and staff who assisted with logistics on many occasions; the L&C Communications department for their collaborative efforts; and to the folks who supported us behind the scenes with encouragement and excitement about us telling this story.
Title: Art at the Center
Description: A 22-minute documentary highlighting the transformative power of art in promoting wellness, mental health, and community connection. It focuses on a liberated approach to mental wellness. Through a program offered at the Lewis & Clark Community Counseling Center, the Masters in Art Therapy program has expanded to offer a free accessible service of a weekly facilitated open studio session, which fosters creativity, belonging, and supportive networks to Portland community.
This work was funded by a grant from the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission. Special thanks to Orsi Nagy, art therapy ’25, for her work in the production of the documentary.
