Janie’s Art Journals, a Chicago-based sustainable art initiative, will present a new series titled “Joy in Resilience” at the Salud Chicago Inaugural Gala on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The event, which runs from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the National Museum of Mexican Art, supports Salud Chicago’s nonprofit community mental health work. The gala brings together art, community, and a shared commitment to making mental health resources more accessible.
The “Joy in Resilience” series consists of five handmade art journals created by Chicago paper artist and Janie’s Art Journals founder Janie Flores. According to the press release, the series celebrates the resilience of Chicago’s neighborhoods and communities as they navigate daily challenges to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Each journal is made from reclaimed materials, including protest signs, discarded papers, vintage materials, repurposed fabrics, and special touches of handmade art sourced from Oaxacan artisans in the Mexico Cultura y Orgullo collective. These materials, gathered from local communities and businesses, tell a story about the interconnectedness of immigrant life in Chicago and reflect lived realities shared by immigrant communities throughout the United States.
“This series celebrates the incredible resilience that exists within our communities,” said Flores. “Our communities continue to thrive amidst uncertainty, fear and struggle, because there is joy. There is family. There is culture. There is unity. There is hope. That is the joy in resilience.”
The concept aligns with the foundation of Janie’s Art Journals, a sustainable art initiative founded in 2023. The initiative transforms materials that might otherwise be discarded—old books, cardboard packaging, vintage papers, reclaimed fabrics, and other found materials—into unique handmade works of art. Flores returned to paper arts during a deeply personal period following the loss of her mother. What began as a creative outlet and a way to process grief has grown into an art initiative centered on storytelling, sustainability, connection, curiosity, and healing.
“Joy in Resilience” builds on that philosophy by looking beyond the individual journal and asking a bigger question: What can discarded materials tell us about the people and communities that refuse to be discarded? From protest signs to packaging from neighborhood businesses, every element carries a piece of a larger story. The journals become both art and archive by preserving fragments of community life while reimagining them into something new.
The opportunity to present at Salud Chicago’s Inaugural Gala is especially meaningful because the event will benefit ongoing community mental health work while bringing together art, community, and a shared commitment to making mental health resources more accessible in ways that are affirming and rooted in community. For those interested in attending, more information is available at https://saludchicago.com/#events. The gala will be held at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, IL 60608.
Janie’s Art Journals is honored to be among the artists presenting work and looks forward to introducing “Joy in Resilience” as part of an evening celebrating the power of community, culture, creativity, and connection. The initiative’s work is also featured on its artist website at https://ko-fi.com/janiesartjournals.
