Chicago paper artist Janie Flores, founder of Janie’s Art Journals, has created a special series of five handmade art journals titled “Joy In Resilience” for the Salud Chicago Inaugural Gala, an event supporting the nonprofit’s community mental health work. The gala will take place on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. The selection of Janie’s Art Journals as a presenting artist highlights the growing recognition of sustainable art practices and their role in addressing social and emotional challenges.
The “Joy In Resilience” 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 incorporates reclaimed materials, including protest signs and materials gathered from local communities and businesses, along with 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 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 that 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. Founded in 2023, Janie’s Art Journals emerged from Flores’ return 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 “Joy In Resilience” 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. The gala will be held from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, IL 60608. For more information, visit https://saludchicago.com/#events. 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 can be explored further at https://ko-fi.com/janiesartjournals.
