REHAB Hospital of the Pacific (REHAB) is proud to announce its upcoming art exhibition, The Journey Forward: Stroke Survivors Healing Through Art.
The exhibition will showcase the transformative power of creativity in stroke recovery, providing a platform for stroke survivors to share their personal journeys through art.
The exhibition is open to the public from April 12 to May 4, 2025 at Downtown Art Center (DAC) in Honolulu. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m to 5 p.m.
Stroke survivors often face significant physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges that affect not just their lives but those of their caregivers. Through REHAB’s Creative Arts Program, stroke survivors discover the healing power of creativity – showing that recovery is not defined by what happens to us, but by how we choose to respond. The exhibition highlights this journey of resilience and hope.
The Journey Forward features a series of paintings and collaborative monoprints created by stroke survivors and their caregivers. These art pieces symbolize the complex journey of recovery, illustrating both the struggles and triumphs of those affected by stroke. Each piece layers symbolic colors, textures and imagery, telling stories of personal strength and healing.
The exhibition’s goals are to:
- Inspire the community, showing that stroke survivors, despite the challenges of recovery, can find hope and strength in the journey forward.
- Foster community and connection, creating a space for stroke survivors, caregivers and the general public to share experiences and support one another.
- Raise awareness during Stroke Awareness Month (May), educating the public on the challenges of stroke recovery and the capacity for survivors to thrive.
“After my stroke, thinking, speaking, problem solving and even eating were very difficult for me,” said Deborah Kobayakawa, a stroke survivor and featured artist. “The Creative Arts Program gave me a way to process my own grief and share what I went through. Thanks to the great care I received [at REHAB], lots of support and hard work, I have made almost a full recovery.”
Stroke is the leading cause of chronic disability and the 3rd highest cause of death in Hawaii, with varying effects on speech, movement, sensation and more. The exhibition highlights the resilience of those who face these challenges daily and demonstrates that through the support of programs like REHAB’s Creative Arts Program, stroke survivors can continue to grow, heal and connect.
The exhibition will also celebrate REHAB’s Stroke Support Group, a vital resource for survivors and their families that provides touchpoints with community resources, useful demonstrations and opportunities to engage with a community going through similar challenges.