“An official ‘Call to Artists’ was advertised several months ago,” stated Lee Moore, Chairman of the artistic jury, who screened and finally accepted a wide array of applications from artists who wished to participate.  “We were overwhelmed by the interest from so many talented artists.”

   Six foot fiberglass turtles have been synonymous with the MHA since 2004 when the first colorful and meaningful campaign was launched to raise awareness for the Vero Beach based non-profit agency. Following the auction of over 50 turtles in the spring of 2005, there was an outpouring from the community to bring the turtles back as public art in the community forever.  In 2006-2007, the MHA responded and currently 26 turtles are permanently nesting in locations throughout Indian River County.

   The TurtleTrax 2008 theme is “Opening Doors-Changing Lives.”  The unique artist canvasses for the 2008 campaign are eighteen seven foot doors (five of which are antique, taken from a prestigious built in the mid 1800s), seven three foot turtles and sixty eighteen inch cobblestones. All pieces of art will be decorated to the themes of  Hope, Courage, Balance, Play, Renewal and Grace and previewed at the 2008 TurtleTrax Community Festival & Art Exhibit at Riverside Park on February 23, 2008.  They will be later auctioned at a Gala Auction and Concert, “An Evening with Judy Collins” to be held on April 5, 2008 at Riverside Theatre. All proceeds from the event will benefit the MHA.

   Turtle artists include Gail Boardman, Donna Bryan, Ambrus Diossy, Stacy Ekey, Ruth Ann Holt, Debra Jenkins and Barbara Sharp. Artists selected to paint doors are Sue Dinenno, Ambrus Diossy, Michael Enns, Victoria Geller, Chrissy Grace, Heidi Hill and Patty Vaughn, Connie Koehler, Karli Meyer, Timothy Sanchez, Barbara Sharp and Jennifer Weaver.  Artists painting the historic doors are Tricia Collins, Freddie Gibson, Mary Gibson, Gloria Richmond, Paul Scarborough and Emily Tremml. The Cobblestone Path artists are Gail Boardman, Donna Bryan, Sue Dinenno, Deborah Gooch, Anita Prentice, Barbara Sharp, Sarah Tucco, Marcy Von Kohorn and Robert Whitley.

   The MHA, a United Way Agency, is the only nonprofit resource that people in Indian River County have for immediate access to crisis counseling and support for mental and emotional challenges. MHA proves its value to the community everyday in the lives saved, the families helped and the connections made for people facing mental health challenges.  Each year, an average of 150 people attend support groups offered by the MHA including groups for people with bi-polar disorder, chronic depression and schizophrenia, women’s issues, family members of people with chronic mental illness, eating disorders and victims of domestic violence.

For more information on the artistic portion of TurtleTrax 2008, call the MHA office at 772-569-9788 or visit www.TurtleTrax.org. For mental health information, visit www.mhairc.org