Cleveland, historically challenged by some of the highest crime rates in the nation and recently identified as the most stressed city in the country, presents a fertile ground for artistic inquiry.

The Nature of Healing is a group art exhibition featuring around 30 local artists, co-curated with and presented by Deep Roots Gallery. The exhibition focuses on grief, mental health, and utilizing green spaces, such as Cleveland Botanical Garden, as healing spaces in the community. 

The work poses this question to creatives: “What is the relationship between nature (flowers, plants, forests, etc.) and the grief associated with loss?”

There seems to be a complex interplay between natural elements and the emotional landscapes shaped by trauma and mourning. The artistic works you’ll experience in this exhibit dive further to explore what it means to utilize art and natural spaces as tools to support mental health and healthy communities. 

Artist Davon Brantley expresses his experiences with grief through an installation entitled, “MASS”. He states, “I have noticed that people within my community have handled grief in a myriad of ways, while also holding on to the stereotype of grief having to be processed in a linear fashion,” says Brantley. “That the first stage of grief should always be the same for everyone. I found that this is not true. Grief and its processing varies from person to person and can be determined but a variety of different factors: environment, upbringing, closeness to the being that has passed or has been lost, and even time. I have noticed that an essential missing element to grief is having the safe space to process it, uninhibited by outside forces.”

We invite you to learn more about the artists and their work, then stop by the Botanical Garden to experience the wonderful works on display from artists in our community. The outdoor gardens are looking more beautiful each week and will provide a great place for reflection and meditation. We hope to see you soon!

“We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. And we need one another as we need the earth we share.” These words by Maya Angelou beautifully capture the spirit of The Nature of Healing. Through the eyes of artists, we’re invited to see nature not just as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing partner in our healing. The work on view reveals how deeply green spaces and the presence of plants support our emotional and collective well-being—offering space for reflection, resilience, and renewal. We invite you to experience this healing for yourself, here in the gardens.

– Amanda Hannah, Director of Cleveland Botanical Garden Horticulture

The Nature of Healing will be on display at the Cleveland Botanical Garden Saturday, April 5 – Sunday, May 18. This exhibit is included with general admission.

Resources

• Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
• Case Western Grief Resources
• Free Cleveland Clinic Support Groups
• Cornerstone of Hope – Grief Support Center