the Painting Activist

5″ x 7″ watercolor in a 12″ x 15″ frame, $220 ($10 donated to Urban Meadows)
Click here to see picture of framed painting.

See all artwork available for sale.

As told by a close friend who recently lost her father and a co-work in one week, keeping yourself busy through work you enjoy is solace to a burdened mind. I think most of us have experienced refuge in enjoyable work derailing our attention from unpleasant trains of thought. Just such a scenario has been created for employees of Urban Meadows, a nonprofit floral shop disguised as for-profit businesses staffed by people recovering from severe mental illness.

The florist is a division of Illinois’ largest psychiatric rehab agency, Thresholds. A position at Urban Meadows provides an employee, whose professional success is compromised, with support and job training. Many businesses where Urban Meadows employees have previously worked have not been able to accommodate the needs of someone working towards recovery from mental illness.

The nature of the creative work itself, outside of the Valentine’s and Mother’s day madness, does seem incredibly conducive to reduced anxiety, anger and depression. But beyond flower therapy, hats off to an employer able and willing to structure a workplace around the needs of a particular disadvantaged population.

The flower shop is in Chicago, but anyone can place an order through their website, www.urbanmeadows.org, and the arrangement will be delivered in or outside of Chicago.