William McCullagh, a Brighton Fire district volunteer, recalled painting at home one day and thinking it would be nice for his peers to have a creative outlet to help cope with the daily stress of their jobs if they didn’t already. He was curious what other first responders were making, even if it was as simple as gluing matches or toothpicks together.
“We wanted to know what their outlet was, and what they did to feel safe or cope with the pandemic,” McCullagh said.
“Our Community Heroes,” a new exhibit at the Western New York Artists Group and Artists Group Gallery, spotlights the artwork of local first responders and front-line workers to show how art can become a therapeutic mechanism for anyone struggling with mental health. The exhibit displays how creating art becomes a way of working through stress and anxiety, and serves as a token of gratitude and appreciation from the gallery organizers.
“Part of the reason we did this show is we wanted the public to understand that these were people, not just firefighters, not just nurses, and that they have other interests and passions that help them get through the trauma that they have to deal with,” said Gallery Director Donald J. Siuta. “Some of these artists use art as therapy and we want the public to understand this.”
The idea of the show had been marinating for a while thanks to McCullagh, who has been volunteering at Artist Group Gallery for more than a decade. McCullagh, a retired art teacher for Franklin Middle School, was curious if other first responders were turning to art as a way of coping, especially during the height of the pandemic.
“We’d go to calls and have to spray the truck and wear masks and stay away from each other,” McCullagh said. “Sometimes when you are firefighting or helping people, there is no way you can stay away from each other, and it got a little stressful.”
Once lockdown restrictions began lifting around the summer of…
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