City of Hillsboro, OR

12/05/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/05/2025 15:57

Discover the Art of Wellness in Hillsboro's Cultural Arts District

In Downtown Hillsboro's Cultural Arts District, art surrounds you, on stage, in song, and across vibrant murals that celebrate community and culture. Art can move you, challenge you, and spark reflection.

But it's not only about witnessing; creating your own art offers a path inward, a way to explore, express, and even heal. The Hillsboro arts scene provides opportunity to experience both the thrill of inspiration and the quiet power of self-expression, proving that creativity can ignite imagination, connect us to others, and nurture our well-being.

Cultural Wellness at the Walters

Wellness grows in the space where creativity and self-care meet, and the Walters Cultural Arts Center offers countless ways to explore that connection.

Whether you settle into the calming vibrations of a sound bath, find balance and breath through yoga, shape clay in the ceramics studio, or express inner stories through writing and painting, each medium opens a pathway to reflection and renewal. Creative exploration encourages presence, curiosity, and emotional expression, key elements in supporting mental health.

"The arts provide a cognitive, emotional, and physical experience that is essential to all peoples and cultures for personal expression," said City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Cultural Arts & Outreach Supervisor Julio Badel. "Art has the ability to release stress, emotion, energy, and create meditative mindsets."

At the Walters, these practices become shared experiences, building community and fostering a deeper sense of belonging. Through hands-on making, mindful movement, and artistic play, you can cultivate healing, reduce stress, and discover new tools for resilience.

Art Therapy at Ancora Wellness Center

Art can create a bridge between the inner world and outer expression. This is something Kara Kazemba, owner of Ancora Wellness Center on Lincoln Street, embraces in her practice.

Last spring, Ancora launched an art therapy program complementing existing offerings like ecotherapy, animal-assisted therapy, naturopathic care, nutrition, reiki, and walk-and-talk sessions. This suite of services reflects a broader vision of wellness: one that extends beyond the absence of illness to encompass resilience, balance, and joy.

Art allows people to process experiences in ways that words alone may not capture. Art therapy can support mindfulness, foster self-compassion, and create safe opportunities to explore difficult emotions. In this sense, the canvas or sketchbook becomes not just a tool, but a companion on the journey of healing.

"Just as we care for the body through movement, nutrition, and medicine, we care for the mind and spirit through practices that nurture imagination, play, and connection," Kara said. "In a culture that often pushes productivity over creativity, making space for art is a radical act of self-care and protest; one that affirms our wholeness."

Mindful Art Making with Elizabeth Higgins

Artist Elizabeth Higgins, whose studio is in Downtown Hillsboro's Cultural Arts District, merges creativity and wellness through nature-inspired drawing and painting classes offered online and at a variety of local venues. She also teaches nature-journaling and other classes at the Walters and the Senior Center.

With a focus on simplicity, observation, and personal expression, Elizabeth invites participants to set aside judgment and discover the healing properties of art. With gentle guidance, conversations about nature and symbolism, and approachable techniques, these drawing and watercolor sessions are both meditative and fun. Participants keep a personal sketchbook, growing a "garden" of creativity while nourishing well-being.

Creative Thriving at the Senior Center

At the Hillsboro Community Senior Center, arts and wellness programs keep older adults connected, healthy, and sharp through creativity and community. From lively Canvas & Coffee painting events to drop-in groups like Material Girls, seniors find joy in making art together while building friendships.

"Art and creativity are essential to healthy aging," said Melissa Thompson, Hillsboro Community Senior Center manager. "They inspire expression, keep the mind active, and create meaningful connections across generations."

Seniors also often serve as instructors at the center, sharing their knowledge with younger participants. And they can also serve as makers, sharing their crafts and wares for sale in the 8th Avenue Gift Shop inside the Senior Center.

Creativity as a Compass

In Hillsboro, the arts are both mirror and compass, reflecting who we are and guiding us inward. From fabric art to sketchbooks, dance, and intergenerational creativity, each experience invites presence, expression, and connection. Here, art is not just a pastime, but a practice of healing, joy, and discovery. It opens the heart, calms the mind, and strengthens community, reminding us that creativity is essential to our wellbeing and a gateway to understanding ourselves and each other.

Whether in a community classroom, a therapy session, or a downtown gallery, art continues to remind us of who we are and who we can become.

Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Resources

City of Hillsboro, OR published this content on December 05, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 05, 2025 at 21:57 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]