Wellness for the Winter Blues
- NiSR
- Feb 12
- 3 min read
An Event for All Ages
Event Picture Gallery: Thank you for joining us for Mental Health In Motion and other local artists for a warm, creative event hosted by South Roanoke United Methodist Church and Neighbors in South Roanoke.
When: Saturday, February 8, 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Doors open at 1pm, Performance at 1:30pm, Activities from 2:00pm to 3:00pm including:
poetry writing, restorative movement, visual art, music, a special Children's Storytime Corner, and more.
Where: South Roanoke United Methodist Church, 2330 S. Jefferson St.
Who: Everyone! This event is for all ages, no matter your address or zip code! Please share this invitation with your friends, family, and neighbors.
Why: It's common to feel down during the winter months. Let's learn, connect, and support each other through the season. We'll explore uplifting art activities and experience an educational dance performance about Seasonal Affective Disorder.
About the Artists
Heather Lobe Johnson
Heather is a poet, writing teacher, and nonprofit grant writer based in Roanoke, Virginia. She is passionate about helping people find healing through words and learning to own their unique stories. Heather leads poetry challenges and classes virtually with The Way Back to Ourselves and the Loved Letters writing communities. Her current work in progress is a poetry book called “Take These Ashes” scheduled for publication in 2025.
Dylan Dent
Dylan is a singer/songwriter, rapper, and producer. Throughout 9 projects his music has crossed many genres, but he spends most of his time trying to find new angles on rap and pop music. The one thing that remains consistent is the strong theme of introspection in his songwriting. With everything he creates he hopes to add value to the lives of those experiencing his art.
Catherine Backus
Catherine knows personally the healing power of music. She has over twenty years’ experience as a songwriter, starting out in a band with her twin sister in middle school, and eventually playing around the country with her solo project catherine the great. She’s spent the past decade working as a board-certified music therapist, sharing music with others in clinical settings around the Roanoke Valley. A Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2022 made her radically reimagine her relationship to music, work, and rest, and she has spent the past few years trying to practice what she teaches in order to keep her own nervous system functioning at its best. Catherine is looking forward to sharing all the ways that music can support our self-care practices and help us to show up for ourselves and each other.
Renae Dower
Renae has been making art for as long as she can remember, finding solace, joy and relaxation in the creative process. She received her BA in Studio Art from Roanoke College in 2014, and has continued to create a multitude of crafts, paintings, clothing and pottery items. As a member of MHIM, Renae is excited to be able perform as a company dancer and also share some simple artistic practices that can help calm and center the mind at the Wellness for Winter Blues event.
Dawnbee Kim-Fair
Dawnbee is a Roanoke-based activist, creative, and the owner of @sweetrainhealing a small business rooted in yoga, energetic medicine, anti-racism, and social justice. Her art practices revolve around personal, spiritual, and social transformation while also boldly embracing vulnerability; finding the intersectionality between wellness, liberation, and creativity. With a commitment to dismantling systems of oppression, Dawnbee has emerged as a passionate advocate for marginalized communities both locally and globally.
Misty Dawn
With a background in social work, she specializes in supporting children and their families in the community. Misty uses storytelling to engage young minds. She’ll be hosting a special Family Storytime Corner where creativity and expression thrive. Don’t miss out on this magical experience!
And more.
Artists will be added as they are confirmed.
"Wellness for the Winter Blues" is made possible through Arts Connect Neighbors, an effort of the Roanoke Arts Commission, the Roanoke Cultural Endowment, and Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates with funding from the City of Roanoke and the National Endowment for the Arts.
