Mickey MacKaben to Debut a Pop-Up Art Exhibition to Encourage Conversations Around Youth Mental Wellness

For Immediate Release: September 22, 2025
Mickey MacKaben to Debut a Pop-Up Art Exhibition to Encourage Conversations Around Youth Mental Wellness 

RAPID CITY, SD – The Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC) & Black Hills Area Community Foundation (BHACF) are delighted to announce that Mickey MacKaben has been selected to create an interactive pop-up art exhibition called “The Inside Out Tree.” The pop-up will be at the Dahl Arts Center, opening October 10 from 3-5pm! 

The exhibit, designed to strengthen youth mental wellness, responds directly to community voices. In 2025, Black Hills residents called for more investment in “youth mental wellness” through BHACF’s annual Thriving Communities Survey. Residents emphasized a need for resources that encourage open conversations about mental wellness to reduce stigma. 

The Inside Out Tree is an interactive, multi-sensory art installation designed to give young people a voice, a safe space to share vulnerability, and an opportunity to educate their communities in an empathetic and transformative way. Mental health challenges are often invisible — especially for youth, who may feel pressure to present a version of themselves that hides their inner struggles.

A sculptural tree serves as the centerpiece, built from natural materials and designed for hands-on community interaction. The installation creates three engagement zones:
Roots Zone - "What We Carry": Cloth strips and paper elements hang near the tree's base, representing common struggles young people face. Visitors can add their own anonymous contributions or read affirmations and coping strategies. This space normalizes mental health challenges as part of the human experience.
Trunk Zone - "Growing Together": A collaborative surface where community members add drawings, words of support, or artistic marks. This grows into a visual representation of collective strength throughout the exhibition.
Branches Zone - "Messages of Hope": The most participatory element—visitors write supportive messages, affirmations, or personal reflections on paper leaves and attach them to branches. Each contribution helps the tree grow, creating a living symbol of community care.

The community is invited to participate in creating “The Inside Out Tree” on September 26th from 3:30-6pm and October 7th & 9th from 3:30-6pm. All supplies will be provided!

This project doesn't just raise awareness about youth mental health—it creates a model for ongoing community dialogue. By centering youth voices and requiring community participation, it transforms mental health from a difficult topic into a shared commitment to supporting young people's resilience and growth.

In addition to supporting the Inside Out Tree exhibit, BHACF and its giving circle members directed $145,000 in grants to nine nonprofits that strengthen youth mental wellness across the Black Hills. Learn more about the grantees on BHACF’s website: bhacf.org/thriving-communities.

The RCAC and BHACF will be hosting an opening reception with Mickey MacKaben on October 10 from 3-5pm in the lobby of the Dahl Arts Center. The interactive exhibit will include messages of support for young people and connect youth to resources. Community members can visit to add their own contributions to the artwork.

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For More Information:
Maggie Lepa-Wince
Rapid City Arts Council
605.394.4101
[email protected]

The purpose of the Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC) is to champion the power of art to bring all kinds of people together, making art more accessible, more integral and more inspiring for the communities we serve.​ RCAC was established by community leaders in 1968 and officially partnered with the city in 1974 to manage the Dahl Arts Center and expand arts and cultural resources. RCAC creates and supports diverse programming in exhibitions, performances, and educational classes. Supported by individual donors and organizations such as the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, John T. Vucurevich Foundation, the South Dakota Arts Council through the South Dakota Department of Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts, and others, RCAC is committed to enriching the community's artistic and cultural experiences. Located at 713 7th St in Downtown Rapid City, the center offers free admission and is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Discover more at rapidcityartscouncil.org.

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