Art show to benefit adults with mental illness
Birch Tree Communities to host Expression Art Show and Sale

Birch Tree Communities will host its sixth annual Expressions Art Show and Sale from 6 to 8 p.m. May 1 at the Governors Mansion, 1800 Center Street in Little Rock.

Three-hundred framed original paintings, created by adults with serious and persistent mental illness, will be featured, with all profits from the sale of the art going directly to the artists.

Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be served, with live jazz music performed by Wine and Roses. Pamela Smith of KATV-TV, Channel 7, will host a live auction of several award-winning pieces starting at 6:45. Tickets may be purchased for $20 per person by calling (501) 303-3202.

Birch Tree Communities is a private nonprofit organization serving 300 adults with mental illness in Arkansas.

One aspect of the Birch Rehabilitative Day Program is to integrate artistic components such as painting, sculpting, photography, poetry, filmmaking, acting and music into recovery. Each year the group features the accomplishments of its members, a spokesman said, by presenting "unique, powerful art created by unique, powerful artists. We hope you will take the time to learn more about our organization and the services we provide to this multi-talented population."

More information is available by contacting Luke Kramer at (501) 944-8653, (501) 303- 3270, lkramer@birchtree.org or through the group's Web site at birchtree.org.