Janie’s Art Journals has been selected to present a new art series at the Salud Chicago Inaugural Gala, an event supporting the nonprofit’s community mental health work. The gala will take place on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. The selection places a spotlight on the intersection of sustainable art, cultural storytelling, and accessible mental health resources.
For the occasion, Chicago paper artist and Janie’s Art Journals founder Janie Flores created a special series of five handmade art journals titled “Joy In Resilience.” The series celebrates the resilience of Chicago’s neighborhoods and communities as they navigate daily challenges to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Each journal incorporates reclaimed materials, including protest signs and materials gathered from local communities and businesses, along with discarded papers, vintage materials, repurposed fabrics, and handmade art sourced from Oaxacan artisans in the Mexico Cultura y Orgullo collective.
“This series celebrates the incredible resilience that exists within our communities,” Flores said. “Our communities continue to thrive amidst uncertainty, fear and struggle, because there is joy. There is family. There is culture. There is unity. There is hope. That is the joy in resilience.”
The concept aligns with the foundation of Janie’s Art Journals, a sustainable art initiative founded in 2023 that transforms discarded materials into unique handmade works. Flores returned to paper arts during a personal period following the loss of her mother, and what began as a creative outlet has grown into an initiative centered on storytelling, sustainability, connection, curiosity, and healing. “Joy In Resilience” expands that philosophy by asking what discarded materials can tell us about the people and communities that refuse to be discarded.
The presentation at Salud Chicago’s Inaugural Gala is significant because it brings together art, community, and a shared commitment to making mental health resources more accessible. The event benefits Salud Chicago’s ongoing community mental health work, which aims to provide affirming and community-rooted support. By featuring art made from reclaimed materials, the gala underscores how creativity can serve as both a mirror and a catalyst for social change. The journals become both art and archive, preserving fragments of community life while reimagining them into something new.
Janie’s Art Journals is honored to be among the artists presenting work and looks forward to introducing “Joy In Resilience” as part of an evening celebrating the power of community, culture, creativity, and connection. The event will be held at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, IL 60608. For more information, visit https://saludchicago.com/#events. To see more of Janie’s work, visit https://ko-fi.com/janiesartjournals.
