'Art Of Recovery' Lifts Spirits In Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, NH — New friendships, personal growth and artistic skill were celebrated Thursday during the ninth annual Art of Recovery art show and auction held by Seacoast Mental Health. The event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit, which provides mental health services to people who are unable to pay. As part of the Art of Recovery program, seven clients have partnered with professional artists in the Seacoast area to create works of art that inspire.

Seacoast Mental Health CEO Jay Couture said last year's event raised $40,000 for the organization's mental health services. She said by participating in Art of Recovery, many of Seacoast Mental Health's clients have grown confidence and genuine friendships.

"It helps people find a different part of themselves that they tap into," said Couture.

During Thursday's show, Exeter resident Lynnette Stebbins, 39, was showcasing photography, including a closeup of a sunflower in Lee and a tranquil silhouette of a tree in New Castle.

"I like seeing the world through different eyes, just bringing out the beauty," said Stebbins.

City resident Mary Lou Garland, 63, was showcasing a painting of the Moe's Italian Sandwiches building in Portsmouth. She said she has been coming to eat at Moe's ever since she moved to Portsmouth from Brooklyn, New York, in the 1960s.

"Don't leave Portsmouth until you get one of those Italian sandwiches. You'll miss out on life," said Garland.

For Leslie Beauregard, it was her first time participating in Art of Recovery. She said all who participated grew camaraderie and admiration for each other as they got to know each others' personal stories.

"It has been more than I ever expected it to be," said Beauregard , 56, a self-taught artist who lives in Amesbury, Massachusetts.

Beauregard said she has been painting for her entire life, and when her children were young she became especially interested in doing narrative children's art. Her children are now 22 and 25 years old.

Portsmouth resident Paul O'Brien, 62, has been participating in Art of Recovery since the event began nine years ago. He said he enjoys the personal growth that comes through the process of creating pieces through Art of Recovery. On Thursday he showcased an acrylic painting of a Market Square scene with bicycles.

O'Brien said he used photographs of the city as inspiration for the painting.

"It took five different images to make one painting," said O'Brien. "I enjoy it. I just like art, and I'm learning a skill."

The Art of Recovery event was held at Atlantic Grill in Rye.