As you approach Peg’s Gallery in downtown Hudson, the message becomes clear: This is a different kind of space. On a meadow next to the entrance stands a massive aluminum and enamel sculpture called Bipolar Butterfly. Created by Stow-based artist Kimmy Henderson, the work’s vibrant, mismatched wings symbolize the dualities of mental illness—its chaos and its beauty.

“I actually didn’t start painting until my second child was born and the Butterfly Project didn’t start until after my first manic episode in 2016,” says Henderson, who was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder at age 35. She sees her work as a bridge between art and advocacy. “I think it shows how art has the power to bring about social change and activism.”

That connection—between creative expression and mental health—is at the

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