The Dix Park Conservancy is unveiling a new art installation on Dorothea Dix Park on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at 10 a.m. with a reception that credentialed media and members of the public are invited to attend. North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley will also be speaking to celebrate the public art called "Get Well Soon," created by Raleigh-based artist and licensed mental health counselor Lamar Whidbee. The piece is installed at Dix Park’s Spruill Building, part of the now-closed mental health facility established in 1856.
This installation, created as part of Dix Park’s Arts & Culture program, addresses the complex realities of mental health and showcases an image of Whidbee’s daughter holding a flower. Surrounding her are vibrant floral representations that honor the mental health journeys of individuals and communities connected to Whidbee.
This event will showcase this addition to Dix Park and serve as a moment of reflection and education, recognizing the importance of mental health services within communities and honoring the legacy of those associated with the Spruill Building.
What: Unveiling of "Get Well Soon" art installation on Dorothea Dix Park
Who: Lamar Whidbee, artist, art educator, mental health professional
Kody H. Kinsley, Secretary, NCDHHS
Kelly Crosbie, Director, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, NCDHHS
When: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
10- 11 a.m.
Where: Greg Poole, Jr. All Faiths Chapel (across the street from the Spruill Building)
1030 Richardson Drive
Raleigh, NC 27603
Media: Credentialed media are invited to attend. Please RSVP to news@dhhs.nc.gov.