For many survivors, creating art isn’t just about making something beautiful– it’s a powerful tool for healing trauma and ending cycles of violence. It allows survivors to represent themselves and their experiences as they are, and not how others see them. It transforms the stigma and shame that many survivors feel into a pathway toward understanding, connection, and love.
That’s why MenHealing is hosting Courage to Create — a one-night-only survivor art showcase featuring the play, Bonded. Please join us online or in-person at…
Westminster University’s Gillmor Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah
Sunday, April 27th, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM MDT
…to support our talented community of survivor artists, and to experience an unforgettable evening of art, storytelling, vulnerability, and men healing in community, together.
From left to right: Josh Knight (florist), Tyler Martin (actor + playwright), Brad Farinacci (musician), Michael Guinn (poet), Bradley Gubler (painter), Jordan Masciangelo (photographer)
Our featured artists come from all walks of life and work with huge variety of mediums, from theater, to poetry, music, floral arranging, painting, photography, writing, and more. All are men who’ve experienced sexual harm and found community and healing through MenHealing’s one-of-a-kind programs. Click on the individual artist profiles above (look for their names and photos under the “Team” section on this page) to read more about each artist’s story and see examples of their artwork.
Featured The Play, Bonded
Headlining our evening is the play Bonded, featuring playwright Tyler Martin and Scandal’s Bellamy Young.
Synopsis: When Emmett, a messy and jaded 20-something stuck in a cycle of self-destruction, lands in jail after his second DWI, a looming prison sentence forces his estranged older sister, Nellie, a polished and famous NYC TV food personality, to return to their Texas hometown in search of a solution. But beneath Emmett’s recklessness lies something far more fragile, and as their uneasy reunion unfolds, long-buried family trauma resurfaces. Forced to confront not just the cycles of abuse that shaped them but also the systemic challenges that have defined their lives, they must finally face the painful truths they’ve spent years avoiding. As Nellie tries to pull Emmett back from the edge, they’re left questioning whether healing lies in coming together — or finally letting go.
Following the play will be a brief panel discussion featuring several of the evening’s artists, all survivors themselves, about the healing power of artmaking and storytelling.
All funds raised from ticket sales and donations directly support MenHealing’s unique, state-of-the-art programs for men who have experienced sexual harm.
In-person seating is limited– don’t wait!
We can’t wait to see you. Together we are stronger!