The Healing Through Expressive Arts, or HEArt Show, is an annual event — presented this year on Feb. 5 to benefit Alzheimer’s disease research and treatment — that provides a platform for varieties of creative expression like culinary arts and expressive movement.

This year’s show raised funds for the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at FAU.

Family therapist Clara Bossie, founder and coordinator of HEArt, said the center helps research and treat Alzheimer’s and that its focus on healing through interaction caught her eye.

Bossie founded the show because she believes that therapeutic art programs do not receive adequate funding.

Those attending the HEArt show were dressed in suits and cocktail dresses and served gazpacho and dumplings. Local artists played live music throughout the event.

Bossie opened the show with a speech highlighting her belief that creativity and artistic expression are important parts of any healing process.

Her goals for the show were funding, education and awareness of healing through expression.

The idea of hosting a nonprofit art show was not the initial plan, instead, it was more of a compromise. “HEArt was an accident … I didn’t want to talk in front of people, so instead I made an art show,” she said.

That “accident” has grown in its four years and is now attracting both established and up-and-coming artists alike.

“We don’t have to beg [artists] too much,” said Bossie, happy about this year’s turnout, eyeing some of the finer pieces on display.

The show has grown in more ways than just content.

High school volunteers from all over Palm Beach county could be found at the event.

Tatiana Farkas is one of these volunteers, a local high school sophomore who was asked by Bossie to paint throughout the event. The completed painting was put up alongside other select pieces for auction at the end of the show.  

Farkas also had four other paintings available for sale and was excited for the exposure. “Hopefully some get sold,” she said.

Both local students and established artists donated pieces to be sold.

According to Bossie, any professional artists that participated were required to donate one of their pieces and received a small percentage of sales for all other pieces donated, which encourages big talent to feature in the show while raising awareness for HEArt.

Bossie, along with the rest of the HEArt staff, featured their own art pieces for sale at the event in support of their mission of healing through expressive arts.

Lesser known artists have a different application process and do not receive any profits from the sales, which are instead donated fully to the benefiting organization. However, this event provides exposure and helps to put their work on display.

Sofia Beira, a high school sophomore, said she was excited that her art is getting attention while also raising money for a good cause. “It’s nice to see that your art can be sold.”

The beneficiary organizations of the annual event receive 100 percent of the profits.

Tucker Berardi is contributing writer of the University Press. If you would like to contact him regarding this or other articles, he can be reached at [email protected].